Myanmar Amber Research Articles

New dusty lacewings from Upper Cretaceous amber of northern Myanmar (Neuroptera: Coniopterygidae)

Two new genera with two new species of Coniopterygidae, Gigantoconis septemimacula gen. et sp. nov. and Planiconis bimaculata gen. et sp. nov. are described from Upper Cretaceous amber of northern Myanmar, which are assigned to Aleuropteryginae. Gigantoconis septemimacula gen. et sp. nov. is distinct at the large body size within the hitherto known Myanmar amber dusty lacewings, characterized by the more segmented flagellum and particular venation. Planiconis bimaculata gen. et sp. nov. is most characterized by the dorsal-ventrally flattened head. The new findings update our understandings to the biodiversity of Cretaceous Coniopterygidae during the Mesozoic. A key to Myanmar amber genera of Coniopterygidae is provided.

Two new genera and species of Oecanthidae (Orthoptera: Grylloidea) from Mid-Cretaceous of Myanmar

Summary We describe two new genera with two new species, Crassicorpus maculatus n. gen., n. sp., and Ordicalcaratus inconditus n. gen., n. sp., based on two specimens from northern Myanmar amber. Crassicorpus maculatus n. gen., n. sp. can be characterized by its pro- and mesotibia with two inner apical spurs and one outer apical spur; metabasitarsus with two long apical spurs and two dorsal spines; and CuPb crossing the harp. Ordicalcaratus inconditus n. gen., n. sp. can be characterized by its metatibia only with inner subapical spurs and outer spines; basitarsus with a pulvillus gradually becoming wider toward apex; and second tarsomere with a small pulvillus.

New larval records of the extinct hard tick Compluriscutula vetulum (Arachnida: Ixodida) from Burmese amber, with notes on its morphology

The hard tick Compluriscutula vetulumPoinar and Buckley, 2008 (Ixodida: Ixodidae) from the mid-Cretaceous (ca. 100 Ma) Burmese amber of Myanmar was first described in a new, extinct genus based on a larva. Here, several more larvae are documented providing additional morphological data based on optical studies using a Keyence VHX-6000 Digital Microscope supplemented by computed microtomography (µ-CT). We confirm the presence of 14 festoons (not 13) on the posterior margin of the body, a character unique for the genus. We further describe an unusual pattern of hypostome dentition in the mouthparts, with an unequal and uneven 2/2 arrangement. Moreover, on the internal side of the palps, to the second and third segments five tooth-like elements are present, similar to the hypostome dentition. Fossil ticks are generally very rare, thus the discovery of numerous new specimens of C. vetulum suggests that it may have been relatively common in the Burmese amber forest. Larval instars predominate in the fossil record and we might speculate that they preferred arboricolous hosts.

Discovery of the rove beetle subfamily Trichophyinae (Coleoptera: Staphylinidae) in Upper Cretaceous Taimyr amber, Siberia, Russia

The monogeneric rove beetle subfamily Trichophyinae (genus Trichophya) is reported from Upper Cretaceous Taimyr amber from Yantardakh in northern Siberia. The Taimyr specimen of Trichophya is assigned to the “pilicornis species-group” which contains the majority of extant species. It is differentiated from the single known trichophyine fossil Trichophya minor Yamamoto and Newton, 2021 from ca. 99 Ma mid-Cretaceous Myanmar amber, which is placed in the “antennalis species-group” together with one recent species. Together with Trichophya minor, our newly discovered fossil Trichophya species demonstrates that the two morphologically different recent Trichophya species groups were already present far back in time. The taxonomy, biogeography and paleoecology of the Taimyr amber Trichophya is placed in the context of the known morphology, distribution and habitat requirements of the extant species.

Three new species of Elcanidae (Insecta: Orthoptera) from Myanmar amber and a discussion about phylogeny, ecology and evolutionary origin of Myanmar-amber Elcanidae

Three new species of Elcanidae (Insecta: Orthoptera) from Myanmar amber and a discussion about phylogeny, ecology and evolutionary origin of Myanmar-amber Elcanidae

A new genus and a new species of Trigonidiidae (Orthoptera: Grylloidea) from north Myanmar amber.

We present the description of a new genus and new species of Trigonidiidae, Qiongqi crinalis gen. et sp. nov., found in amber deposits at Noije Bum, near Tanai in the Hukawng Valley of northern Myanmar. Its lateralized eyes, short clypeus, exposed mandible, and extremely dense setae entirely covering the body, provides us with new knowledge on the morphology of Trigonidiidae. Additionally, a key to species of fossil Trigonidiidae in amber was provided.

Description of three new species of Palaeoglaesum Wagner (Diptera: Psychodidae, Bruchomyiinae) from mid-Cretaceous amber of northern Myanmar

Bruchomyiinae (Psychodidae) are frequently observed in mid-Cretaceous amber of northern Myanmar. Herein three new species belonging to the genus Palaeoglaesum Wagner, 2017, i.e., P. jakubi sp. nov., P. gregi sp. nov. and P. myanmari sp. nov. are described and illustrated. Further details of the genus morphology based on analyses of new specimens significantly increase our knowledge about this group in the Cretaceous. Heretofore, the genus Palaeoglaesum is known only from Myanmar amber materials.

A new Cardiophorinae-like click-beetle from mid-Cretaceous amber of northern Myanmar (Coleoptera: Elateridae)

A new click-beetle, Cretocardiophorus laminatus gen. et sp. nov., is described and illustrated based on a well-preserved female specimen from the mid-Cretaceous amber of northern Myanmar. Two potential male specimens of this new species are also reported and illustrated. Cretocardiophorus gen. nov. may be related to the morden subfamily Cardiophorinae by its typical habitus, especially the heart-shaped scutellar shield. This new genus is also notable by the flat and slightly enlarged pedicel of antenna, the presence of styli in ovipositor, as well as the shape of aedeagus, which distinguish it from the modern Cardiophorinae. In addition, its leg has elongated tarsi covered with extremely long bristles, which is rare in Elateridae and similar to those beetles that inhabit sandy environments. This is the eighth Elateridae known from mid-Cretaceous of Northern Myanmar amber.

Remarkable diversity of the handsome fungus beetles genus Cretaparamecus (Coleoptera: Endomychidae: Merophysiinae) from mid-Cretaceous amber of northern Myanmar

The extent of the diversity of fossil handsome fungus beetles (Coleoptera: Endomychidae) is still poorly comprehended but in the recent years efforts have been made in their documentation. Recently, different taxa from mid-Cretaceous amber from northern Myanmar have been discovered and described. These represent the oldest known members of several subfamilies of Endomychidae or have been placed as incertae sedis within the family. The genus Cretaparamecus (Merophysiinae) was earlier described based on one species from Myanmar amber, C. tarsalis. Here we describe three new species from the same locality and geological horizon, C. angustus, C. crassipes and C. uncinus spp. nov. The genus is redescribed to incorporate the morphological variation observed in these species. The morphological and species diversity of the genus in mid-Cretaceous amber of northern Myanmar is discussed. In order to confirm the origin and age of the amber pieces studied, FT-IR spectra were obtained.

Are the recently described fossil Mole Crickets of Myanmar amber real gryllotalpids? (Orthoptera: Gryllotalpidae & Gryllidae).

We report five new Myanmar amber specimens attributable to "Mole Cricket" †Pherodactylus rectanguli n. comb., hitherto regarded as a Mole Cricket (Orthoptera: Grylloptalpidae). The new material includes two adult males, two adult females, and one nymph. The specimens are redescribed, and additional new characters are provided for their delimitation and corresponding species identification. We carry out a comparison between these new specimens with other taxa of mole crickets from Myanmar amber and extant true crickets. The result indicates that some species merely represent different nymphal development stages or adults of †Pherodactylus rectanguli n. comb., however, they were misidentified as different species. We also treated genera †Tresdigitus n. syn. and †Chunxiania n. syn. as synonyms of genus †Pherodactylus Poinar, Su & Brown, 2020, and treat †Tresdigitus gracilis Jiang, Xu, Jarzembowski & Xiao, 2022 n. syn. and †Chunxiania fania n. syn. as synonyms of †Pherodactylus rectanguli n. comb. †Burmagryllotalpa longa is valid, because its shape of the pronotum curved without lateral carinae. The morphological convergences and specializations of subterranean dwelling species are discussed. The robust fore tibia and long apical spurs of †P. micromorphus, †P. rectanguli n. comb. and †B. longa are insufficient evidence for an assignment to the family Gryllotalpidae. Instead, we suggest place them into the subfamily Gryllinae (Gryllidae), tribe Sclerogryllini, and group them into their own subtribe Pherodactylina n. subtr.. A key to the identification of recent and fossil Sclerogryllini is also provided. Their taxonomy and morphology are discussed.

Umenocoleidae (Insecta: Dictyoptera) from Turonian sediments of Kzyl-Zhar, Kazakhstan and Cenomanian northern Myanmar amber

Umenocoleidae (Insecta: Dictyoptera) from Turonian sediments of Kzyl-Zhar, Kazakhstan and Cenomanian northern Myanmar amber

Unusual larviform beetles in 100-million-year-old Kachin amber resemble immatures of trilobite beetles and fireflies

Despite the large number of species in the group Coleoptera (beetles), it is usually relatively easy to identify an adult beetle as such due to certain common characteristics. Among beetle larvae, however, there is a larger variability of body organisation. In some lineages, specialised larval morphologies are carried on into the adult phase by heterochrony, more exactly paedomorphosis. Such evolutionary events resulted in larviform females, as they occur in some extant representatives of Lycidae (net-winged beetles) and Lampyridae (fireflies). However, such larviform individuals, larvae or paedomorphic females, have been very rarely described in the fossil record until now and were restricted to Cenozoic ambers. Here, we report fossil larviform representatives, resembling larvae of the groups Lampyridae and Lycidae in certain aspects, from 100-million-year-old Myanmar amber. We furthermore discuss the morphological similarities and differences of the three new specimens in relation to extant larviform representatives of the groups and possible relationships of the new fossils.

When the past meets the present: the oldest known Bibioninae, and the youngest known Cretobibioninae (Diptera, Bibionidae) from mid-Cretaceous Myanmar amber.

The Diptera family Bibionidae has a rich fossil record from the Tertiary, however little is known about this family in the Mesozoic. Recently, a number of specimens have been found in mid-Cretaceous Myanmar amber, dating from about 99 MYr BP. I report the finding of the oldest known member of the recent subfamily Bibioninae, as well as the youngest known member of the Cretaceous subfamily Cretobibioninae.The Cretobibioninae is represented by Cretobibio burmiticus sp. n., which suggests a wide, possibly cosmopolitan distribution of the recently discovered subfamily Cretobibionidae, the Bibioninae by Protodilophus semispinosus gen. et sp. n. The latter species is probably related to the recent and Tertiary genus Dilophus, but displays some plesiomorphic traits related to the more recent taxa.

Atypical 'long-tailed' cockroaches arose during Cretaceous in response to angiosperm terrestrial revolution.

Typical cockroaches are flat, broad, with large pronotum and wings covering the body. This conserved morphotype dates back to the Carboniferous, during which the ancestral cockroaches, or roachoids, originated. On the other hand, the ovipositor of cockroaches gradually reduced during the Mesozoic, coupled with a major shift of reproductive strategy. By the Cretaceous, long external ovipositors became rare, most cockroaches used very short or even hidden internal ovipositors to fabricate egg cases (oothecae), which is an innovation for egg protection. Here, we describe two cockroaches from mid-Cretaceous Myanmar amber: Ensiferoblatta oecanthoides gen. et sp. nov. (Ensiferoblattidae fam. nov.) and Proceroblatta colossea gen. et sp. nov. They are slim, elongate, fusiform, with longitudinal pronotum, and have long external ovipositors. The combination of these traits represents a unique morphotype, which resembles crickets and katydids (Ensifera) more than general cockroaches. Ensiferoblatta and Proceroblatta may be arboreal, feeding on and/or laying eggs into certain angiosperms that newly emerged. Their open habit causes latent impairment to viability, and may contribute to their extinction. These new taxa are the youngest members of the ancient, extinct group of cockroaches, namely Eoblattodea, which are characterized by long ovipositors. We speculate that the extinction of certain gymnosperm hosts almost ended the 200-My triumph of Eoblattodea. Despite an attempt to adapt to angiosperm hosts, Ensiferoblatta, Proceroblatta and suchlike cockroaches as an evolutionary dead end failed to save Eoblattodea from extinction. The lack of protection for eggs (maternal care in particular) might accelerate the extinction of Eoblattodea as a whole.

Scorpionflies (Mecoptera) from mid-Cretaceous Kachin amber of Myanmar

Scorpionflies (Mecoptera) from mid-Cretaceous Kachin amber of Myanmar

Fossil diversity in ‘dawn’ hexapods (Diplura: Projapygoidea), with direct evidence for being chemically predaceous in the Cretaceous

Abstract Diplurans are among the earliest hexapods in the geological record. These primitively wingless relatives of insects are infrequently encountered despite being pervasive in soil habitats. Two groups have disparate adaptations for hunting, one mechanical and the other chemical, in Japygoidea and Projapygoidea, respectively. Here, we report three genera (two new) and four species of fossil Projapygidae preserved in Mesozoic and Cenozoic ambers: Electroprojapyx alchemicus gen. et sp. nov. in mid-Cretaceous Myanmar amber, and Symphylurinopsis punctatus gen. et sp. nov. and two species (unnamed) of Symphylurinus in Miocene Dominican amber. The exceptionally preserved specimens possess cerci that are morphologically specialized for expelling a glandular substance on prey. The new Cretaceous E. alchemicus is a stem group to all living species of the family and provides conclusive Mesozoic evidence for a rare type of predation involving offensive (vs. defensive) secretions. The specimen was fossilized in a preying-and-spraying position with its presumptive meal, a Symphypleona springtail (Collembola), reflecting the behavioural predatory repertoire of modern relatives. Apart from one Cenozoic species, these rare specimens represent the only fossil record of the family Projapygidae. Our findings demonstrate that these basal hexapods were predators of small arthropods of ancient forest soils and enrich our understanding of palaeoecological associations and behavioural strategies paramount for the survival of species.

Two new species of heptageniids (Insecta, Ephemeroptera) with long antennae from mid-Cretaceous Myanmar amber

The extant heptageniids are known as flat-headed mayflies in larval stage and mainly living in fast flowing streams. Heptageniidae is one of the most diverse family of Ephemeroptera, however, fossil Heptageniidae in Mesozoic are scarce, obscure the early evolution of this family. Herein, we report one new genus and two new species of Heptageniidae from mid-Cretaceous Myanmar amber. Longiheptagenia gen. nov. is diagnosed by the course of thoracic sutures and characteristics of venation, especially lateroparapsidal sutures are not distinctly curved laterally and without cross-veins in anal field of forewings and small number of cross-veins in the hind wings. Both of the male and female of Longiheptagenia elegantula gen. et sp. nov. are described based upon medial depression of furcasternum mesothorax narrowed anteriorly, the 5th tarsomeres longer than 1st tarsomeres in forelegs, the length proportion of tarsomeres is same in mid- and hind leg, several cross-veins and the pattern of male genitalia which is distinctly distinguished from the male of Longiheptagenia bipartita sp. nov., these findings enrich the diversity of Cretaceous Heptageniidae, moreover, provide comprehensive morphological characters to enhance our understanding of basal Heptageniidae.

Expanding the Fossil Record of Soldier Fly Larvae—An Important Component of the Cretaceous Amber Forest

Larvae of soldier flies and their closest relatives (Diptera: Stratiomyomorpha) are important decomposers of organic material, including wood, that take part in carbon cycling. They also play a certain role in the modern-day animal and human food industry, representing economic value. Larvae of Stratiomyomorpha are considered to be rather rare in the fossil record. Indeed, only very few larvae have been reported so far. Here, we demonstrate that larvae of Stratiomyomorpha are in fact abundant in the Cretaceous, at least in Myanmar amber (about 100 million years old), based on more than 100 amber pieces containing larvae. The specimens could be differentiated into three morphotypes, two already described in a previous work, and a new one. For one morphotype, three larval stages could be distinguished by analysing the dimensions of the head capsules. A quantitative analysis of body shapes indicates a lower morphological diversity of the fossil sample in comparison to the extant fauna, but suggests that they might have had a different ecology in the past. It appears that the data set is not yet saturated, i.e., that more fossil larvae of this group, including different morphologies, are expected to be found.

A new praeaulacid genus with a new species in Praeaulacidae (Hymenoptera: Evanioidea) from mid-Cretaceous Myanmar amber

A new fossil praeaulacid wasp, Hadraulacus perrarus Li, Shih and Ren gen. et sp. nov., is described and figured from mid-Cretaceous Myanmar amber. The new genus is established based on the following characters: antenna with more than 25 antennomeres; metasoma distinctly longer than mesosoma with the first metasomal segment forming a long petiole; legs long and thin, with tibia spurs 1-1-2, claw with one small subbasal tooth; forewing with 1cu-a postfurcal, 1m-cu shorter than 1-M and 2m-cu, 2r-m absent, 3r-m present, 2 + 3rm nearly trapezoidal, and 1m-cu in contact with 2 + 3rm by a short section of M. In addition, this mid-Cretaceous praeaulacid wasp was preserved together with a cicada nymph, likely the result of an accidental assemblage.

An overview of crawling water beetle larvae and a first possible record from 100-million-years-old Myanmar amber

An overview of crawling water beetle larvae and a first possible record from 100-million-years-old Myanmar amber