Rovno Amber Research Articles

Hepatics from Rovno amber (Ukraine), 4. Frullania riclefgrollei, sp. nov

Liverwort inclusions in late Eocene Ukrainian Rovno amber have only been studied recently. Here we describe a fossil species of the extant liverwort genus Frullania based on a single inclusion in a piece of Rovno amber. Frullania riclefgrollei sp. nov. is characterized by leaves with saccate–campanulate watersacs, a small stylus and rounded dorsal lobes with a 1–2 cells wide row of ocelli, deeply bifid underleaves, and possible asexual reproduction by caducous leaves. We differentiate the Rovno fossil from morphologically similar species in Baltic or Bitterfeld amber. The presence of ocelli indicates an affiliation to the extant Frullania subgenus Thyopsiella. This is the first study of an amber inclusion of a liverwort utilizing laser scanning confocal microscopy.

A new species of the genus Paxylommites (Hymenoptera, Ichneumonidae, Hybrizoninae) from Baltic amber

The new species Paxylommites groehni sp. nov. (Ichneumonidae, Hybrizoninae) is described from the Baltic amber. It differs from the only congener P. reticulatus Kasparyan mainly in the absence of crossvein r-m in the forewing, longer metasomal tergite 3, and fine reticulate sculpture of mesonotum and probably metasoma. The holotype will be deposited in the Institute for Geology, University of Hamburg, Germany. A representative of the genus Paxylommites is recorded for the first time from the Rovno amber.

New genus and species of egg parasitic wasps (Platygastroidea, Scelionidae) from the Rovno amber

A new genus and species, Archaeogryon floridus Kononova et Simutnik, gen. and sp. nov., of the family Scelionidae (subfamily Scelioninae) from the Upper Eocene Rovno amber (Klesov locality, Rovno Region, Ukraine) is described. Another species, Brachyscelio grandiculus Kononova et Simutnik, sp. nov., is described in the same family in the genus Brachyscelio Brues, 1940, which has an unclear systematic position. Brief morphological descriptions of the new taxa are given; the inclusions are compared with representatives of the Recent fauna.

First record of a Chironomidae pupa in amber

A pupal exuviae of a non-biting midge (Chironomidae) is recorded in Eocene Rovno amber from Ukraine. The exuviae belongs to an Orthocladiinae species. It possesses several traits characteristic for terrestrial species including non-fringed anal lobes without macrosetae, tergites with only minute shagreen, bare conjunctives, and absence of thoracic horns and frontal warts. Up to now, this is the earliest record of a preimaginal stage of Orthocladiinae, and the only record of a chironomidae pupal exuviae from amber.

New Records Of The Dipteran Genera Triphleba (Phoridae) And Prosphyracephala (Diopsidae) In Rovno And Baltic Ambers

Abstract Dipteran insects constitute 51 % among arthropods of the Rovno Amber. There are 99 species and 23 genera of the Diptera described from the Rovno Amber; however, to date only 32 species are shared with the Baltic Amber fauna, including two species that are treated in this paper. Triphleba schulmanae Brown, 2003 (Phoridae), originally described from the Baltic Amber, is recorded in the Rovno Amber for the first time and its amended description is supplied. Genus Prosphyracephala Hennig, 1965 (Diopsidae), earlier known from the Baltic and Saxonian ambers, the Upper Eocene of Ruby River (Montana, USA) and the Lower Oligocene of Céreste (France), is recorded in the Rovno Amber for the first time. Prosphyracephala aff. succini (Loew, 1873) is the first diopsid record from Ukraine. A second specimen of Prosphyracephala kerneggeri Kotrba, 2009 is found in the Baltic amber; the complete wing venation is described for the first time for this species. Vast majority of the Old World Diopsidae are strictly thermophilous. In fact, all of them but the five species of brevicornis group of Sphyracephala Say (three Palearctic and two Nearctic ones) frequent tropic and the warmest subtropic areas, however the thermophilous Diopsidae are known in the New World neither in past nor in contemporary fauna.

New gall midges (Diptera, Cecidomyiidae, Stomatosematidi, Brachineuridi) from the Late Eocene amber of Gulyanka (Zhitomir Region, Ukraine)

Gall midges and insects in general are recorded for the first time in the Late Eocene Rovno amber from Gulyanka, Zhitomir Region. The specimens described are the first named Late Eocene amber insects collected east of Klesov. One new genus and two new species, Rovnodidactylomyia zhitomirensis sp. nov. and Gulyankiola nazarenkoi gen. et sp. nov., are described. The diagnosis of the genus Rovnodidactylomyia, which includes six species known from the Late Eocene Baltic and Rovno ambers, is emended.

Rovnosoma gen. nov. (Hymenoptera, Chalcidoidea, Encyrtidae) from the Late Eocene Rovno amber

Rovnosoma gracile gen. et sp. nov. is described from the amber collection of the Schmalhausen Institute of Zoology of the National Academy of Sciences of Ukraine (Kiev). A short comparative morphological analysis is provided. As all known Encyrtidae of the Late Eocene Rovno amber fauna, the new genus is characterized by long veins of the forewings. Archaic venation is combined in this genus with the presence of filum spinosum, transverse hypopygium not reaching the apex of the metasoma, and three-dentate mandibles. Such a combination of characters allows assigning the new genus to the subfamily Encyrtinae.

First record of gynandromorphy in fossil Chironomidae (Diptera) from Late Eocene Rovno amber

Gynandromorphy as an abnormal mixture of sex-specific traits of males and females in an individual is wide spread among the Chironomidae (Martin and Lee 2000). Gynandromorphy could be caused by mutation in the mitosis regulating genes, which creates an abnormal puzzle of “genetically masculine” and “feminine” body parts, or by other factors like Mermithidae (Nematoda) parasites (Martin 1994). Gynandromorphs can be categorized based on morphology and relationships between “male” and “ female” parts of the body. Basically they could be divided in 3 groups: a) anteroposterior gynandromorphs – with anterior and posterior parts of the body possessing traits of different sexes; b) lateral – with body possessing different sexes traits on the left and right sides; c) mosaic – with sexual traits creating a sophisticated puzzle where wings and limbs can be attributed to the phenotypes of different sexes (Martin 1994, Rempel 1940). Studies of gynandromorphs are important for understanding Chironomidae sex determination mechanisms and evolution of the group.

A new Malthodes and some other interesting soldier beetles (Coleoptera: Cantharidae) from Late Eocene Rovno amber

A new Malthodes and some other interesting soldier beetles (Coleoptera: Cantharidae) from Late Eocene Rovno amber

A fossil Paratrombiinae mite (Actinotrichida: Trombidioidea) from the Rovno amber, Ukraine.

The first description of a fossil representative of Paratrombiinae from the Rovno amber, Paratrombium rovniense sp. nov., based on an unengorged larva, is provided. The discovery results in a re-definition of the Paratrombiinae and of Paratrombium, which also comprise species with two pectinalae on coxa I.

Latridius Usovae, a new Species of the Minute Brown Scavenger Beetles (Coleoptera, Latridiidae) from Rovno Amber

Abstract Based on a fossil specimen from Late Eocene Rovno amber, Latridius usovae Sergi et Perkovsky, sp. n. is described. It differs from Latridius alexeevi Bukejs, Kirejtshuk et Rucker, 2011 and L. jantaricus Borowiec, 1985 (both described from Baltic amber) by the shape of pronotum, elytra, mid and hind tibiae.

First fossil record of mites of the family Tuckerellidae (Acari: Tetranychoidea) from Rovno amber with description of a new species

A new species, Tuckerella fossilibus sp. nov., is described from the Late Eocene Rovno amber. It is the first fossil record of the family Tuckerellidae.http://zoobank.org/urn:lsid:zoobank.org:pub:23F7E086-2A3C-4B03-89A0-6B255ABEBB39

The Description ofRovnoeucoila tympanomorphaBuffington and Perkovsky, a New Genus and Species of Fossil Eucoiline, with Observations on the Asynchronous Evolution of Diglyphosematini (Hymenoptera: Figitidae: Eucoilinae)

Abstract. A new genus and species of Eucoilinae, Rovnoeucoila tympanomorpha Buffington and Perkovsky, from a Rovno Amber inclusion, is described. This new taxon differs from extant eucoilines by having a clearly segmented metasoma and singular flagellomere morphology in the antenna. The new taxon is included in the re-analysis of a fossil calibrated, relaxed molecular clock divergence date analysis of Figitidae. The new analysis infers a mean crown group age for Eucoilinae at approximately 10 million years younger than previously estimated. The age of the eucoiline tribe Diglyphosematini does not change substantially in our new dating analysis, and is much younger when compared to the age of its host lineage Agromyzidae (Diptera); we discuss potential implications of this situation within the context of natural enemy selection in biological control projects that include parasitoid Hymenoptera.

A new genus of Podonominae (Diptera: Chironomidae) in Late Eocene Rovno amber from Ukraine.

The genus Palaeoboreochlus Baranov et Andersen, n. gen. is erected based on P. inornatus Baranov et Andersen, n. sp. described from a male found in Late Eocene Rovno amber. The new genus groups with Boreochlus Edwards in the tribe "Boreochlini".

New microbombyliids (Diptera: Mythicomyiidae) from Eocene Baltic and Rovno ambers, with notes on previously described amber species.

New mythicomyiids from Baltic and Rovno amber are described and illustrated herein including one new genus: Riga, n. gen.; and five new species: Glabellula aggregata Evenhuis, n. sp., Glabellula perkovskyi Evenhuis, n. sp., Riga toni Evenhuis, n. sp., Carmenelectra shehuggme Evenhuis, n. sp. and Carmenelectra pernigra Evenhuis, n. sp. The genus Riga is very closely related to the extant genus Reissa, which is known from a single species in the Canary Islands. A key to the seven Tertiary species of Glabellula is given. Notes are given clarifying the synonymy of Glabellula; and acting as First Reviser, Mythicomyia dominicana Evenhuis is selected as a correct original spelling. With the description of the new species in this study, the Tertiary fauna of Mythicomyiidae is now 17 species in 8 genera known from Baltic, Saxon, Bitterfeld, French, Rovno (all Eocene), and Dominican (Miocene) ambers.

Науково-методичні засади створення "Українського Бурштинового Шляху" та формування його геотуристичного бренду

Analyzed of geological conditions for the formation and territorial distribution of deposits of amber in Ukraine. Elucidates archaeological finds of amber products and associated with them trade routes. Based on the analysis of geological and historical information, as well as objects and activities to promote amber topics elucidates the functioning geotouristic “Ukrainian Amber Road”. Elaborate recommendations for the creation and promotion geotouristic brand associated with national amber road. Key words: amber, deposits, amber products, geotourism, road, brand.

Eohelea sinuosa (Meunier, 1904) (Diptera, Ceratopogonidae) in Late Eocene ambers of Europe

Differences between ceratopogonid faunas from different Late Eocene ambers are almost as great as between ant faunas and give evidence of their different geographical origins. The greatest similarity is recorded between ceratopogonid faunas of the Rovno and Danish ambers; it manifests itself, in particular, in the presence of Leptoconops, abundant Eohelea sinuosa, and rather frequent occurrence of Meunierohelea. Eohelea sinuosa is the most abundant ceratopogonid species in the Rovno amber. The abundance of Eohelea is probably accounted for by the abundance in these assemblages of small chironomids, with terrestrial larvae; which composed 40% of the Rovno amber chironomid fauna and were probably prey to Eohelea. It is shown for the first time that Ceratopogonini with feminized male antennae (with reduced plume) occur three times as often in syninclusions of specimens of both sexes (63% of all Eohelea inclusions from the Rovno amber);this is evidence that Ceratopogonini with feminized male antennae turned to mating on substrate. This supports the hypothesis of Dinwiddie and Rachootin (2011) that wing organs of female Eohelea were not used for stridulation.

Archaeotinodes ivanovi sp. nov., a new fossil species of Ecnomidae (Insecta: Trichoptera) from the Baltic amber

Archaeotinodes ivanovi sp. nov., a new species of the fossil genus Archaeotinodes, is described from the Eocene Baltic amber. The new species is generally similar to A. pauper Ulmer, 1912 and A. igneusaper Melnitsky, 2009 from the Baltic amber and to A. reveraverus Melnitsky et Ivanov, 2010 from the Rovno amber.

A parasitic wasp of the platygastrid family (Platygastroidea, Platygastridae, Sceliotrachelinae) first recorded in the Rovno amber (Eocene of Ukraine)

A new platygastrid species, Platystasius gracilis sp. nov., from an inclusion in Upper Eocene Rovno amber is described. The new species is assigned to the genus Platystasius Nixon, 1937. The morphological characteristics of the new species are described, and comparative analysis of the inclusion and a representative of the Recent fauna are provided.

First Records of Scolebythidae And Chrysididae (Hymenoptera, Chrysidoidea) In Rovno Amber

, Recorded from the Late Eocene Rovno amber (Ukraine) are above 300 families of Arthropoda. One hundred, seventy-four new species, 35 new genera and one new tribe have been described there in 45 families, including 42 species, 9 genera and one tribe of Hymenoptera. The first record of Scolebythidae is documented herein along with more detail information about Chrysididae which was only mentioned there before. Chrysidids are diverse and not very rare in the Rovno amber: four known inclusions represent at least three species in two genera. This makes a contrast with the Baltic amber: of 34 specimens known to Brues (1933), 30 represent only two species. Genera Pristapenesia BruesPalaeobethylus Brues and Palaeobethyloides Brues and species Palaeobethylus politus Brues and Pristapenesia primaeva Brues, previously known in Baltic amber only, are recorded in Rovno amber as well.