Palaeoentomology

**The first fossil record of Plecia (Diptera, Bibionidae) of Greece from the Early-Middle Miocene of Kymi (Evia, Greece) and its palaeoclimatic and palaeoecological significance**

2026-02-01T21:43:57+13:00

The fossil record of Bibionidae (march flies), in the Cenozoic of Europe is particularly rich compared to other families of the order Diptera (Collomb et al., 2008; Skartveit & Nel, 2017), and the preservation of wings in these insects makes taxonomic analyses possible in most cases. At present, Plecia is not recorded from Europe (Hardy, 1965), and its last occurrences are recorded in the Middle-Late Miocene (Table 1). The distribution of extant and fossil march flies has been widely used to infer temperature changes during the Cenozoic (Gentilini, 1991; Wedmann 1998, 2000; Collomb et al., 2008).

**The second representative of the genus Orimarguloides (Diptera: Limoniidae) from mid-Cretaceous Burmese amber**

2026-03-28T04:12:18+13:00

Burmese amber was regarded as one of the rarer and lesser-known ambers, which has become one of the most important ambers from the Cretaceous Period (66–145 million years ago) over the past two decades for entomologists (Ross, 2025). Until now, about 489 families, 1,497 genera and 2,335 species in the class Insecta are documented from the Cretaceous Burmese ambers (Ross, 2025).

**A new Miocene Aeshna from Germany (Odonata: Aeshnidae)**

2026-04-13T15:40:25+12:00

The hawker dragonflies or Aeshnidae sensu stricto (excluding the Gomphaeschnidae) are diverse in the fossil record but still known only in the Cenozoic. They are rather frequent as compression fossils during the Eocene, Oligocene, and Miocene (e.g., Nel et al., 1994, 1996, 1997; Prokop & Nel, 2000; Nel & Petrulevičius, 2010; Nel et al., 2024). Among these the genus Aeshna Fabricius, 1775 is represented by Late Eocene, Oligocene, and Miocene species from North America, Europe, and China, with an increasing diversity through time, with one Eocene, three Oligocene, and 11 Miocene species. The diversity of the other aeshnid genera apparently decreased during the same period in Eurasia and North America (e.g., the Eocene to Miocene genus Oligaeschna Piton & Théobald, 1939) (Huang et al., 2023). Fossil Cenozoic Aeshnidae are quite poorly known in the other parts of the world. Here we describe a new species of Aeshna from the Middle Miocene of Germany, confirming this general tendency.

A new genus of Protodikraneurini from Baltic amber shows mixed morphological affinities to modern Typhlocybinae (Hemiptera: Cicadellidae)

2026-03-12T16:14:59+13:00

Pedioura rotunda gen. et sp. nov., a fossil leafhopper from Eocene Baltic amber, is described, illustrated and placed in the extinct tribe Protodikraneurini. A key for identification of the seven known genera of the tribe is provided. Some morphological traits of the new fossil, including the very short inner apical cell of the forewing and footlike style apex, appear to be transitional between Protodikraneurini and the modern typhlocybine tribe Typhlocybini, suggesting that Protodikraneurini gave rise to both Dikraneurini and Typhlocybini.

**The centipede Cryptops from Baltic amber (Chilopoda: Scolopendromorpha): phylogenetic analysis using combined morphological and molecular data**

2026-04-08T18:08:38+12:00

Two specimens of scolopendromorph centipedes from Eocene Baltic amber provide a confidently documented fossil record of the blind family Cryptopidae. The fossil material, illustrated via light microscopy and microcomputed tomography, is assigned to the extant genus Cryptops Leach, 1814, based on diagnostic morphological characters such as the absence of eyes, 21 leg-bearing segments with strongly delimited pre- and metatergites, oblique sutures and lateral crescentic sulci on the tergites, and robust, spiniform setae on the ultimate legs. A distinctive pattern of sutures on the first trunk tergite supports conspecificity of the fossil material and a unique combination of characters allows distinction from extant species. Phylogenetic analysis of a dataset for blind Scolopendromorpha incorporates 61 morphological characters for 41 species (37 extant, four extinct) with sequence data for two nuclear ribosomal and two mitochondrial loci for the extant species. The total-evidence maximum likelihood tree places the fossils within total-group Cryptops in a framework of strongly supported extant clades. The fossils constrain a minimum divergence date for the genus to the late Eocene (Priabonian) according to the age of Baltic amber, although geographic structure within extant clades of Cryptops and previous molecular estimates suggest this is a conservative minimum. The discovery supplements the sparse Cenozoic fossil record for Scolopendromorpha and illustrates an application of amber inclusions as temporal calibration points in centipede phylogeny.

The earliest Cenozoic record of a horntail sawfly (Hymenoptera: Siricidae) in North America, from the Paleocene Paskapoo Formation, Canada

2026-04-21T00:32:46+12:00

A new horntail sawfly, Cenosirex speirsorum gen. et sp. nov. (Siricidae), is described from a single fossil specimen collected at the Munce’s Hill locality of the Paskapoo Formation in Alberta, Canada. The new genus is assigned to Siricinae sensu Rasnitsyn (1968) (= Siricinae + Tremicinae) based on the following combination of forewing characters: strongly corrugated wing membrane, moderately narrow ribbon-like costal space, presence of Sc, long 1-Rs with a reclival base, absence of 2rs-m, and basally positioned anal loop. The new taxon exhibits a mosaic of characters shared with several extinct and extant genera, but differs from them primarily in the absence of veins 1rs-m and 2rs-m in the forewing, and in having vein 1cu-a situated slightly distal to the midpoint of cell 1M. This discovery expands the known palaeoentomological diversity of the Paskapoo Formation, representing the first ‘Symphyta’ described from this Palaeocene unit. It also broadens the Palaeocene record of the Siricidae, previously documented only from Europe (France), to include North America, and highlights the need for further palaeontological investigation of the formation. We also provide new illustrations of the type material of Xeris muratensis Boderau et al., 2024, as the original figures were insufficient to clearly depict the diagnostic characters.

**More from the Eocene Belgian amber: a new ladybird fossil of the genus Rhyzobius Kugelann (Coleoptera: Coccinellidae)**

2025-12-25T19:54:19+13:00

Very few insects are known from the Eocene Belgian amber. Only one termite and one true bug have hitherto been described. Here we describe the ladybird Rhyzobius belgicus sp. nov., from this amber. Together with Rhyzobius antiquus, and R. gratiosus from the nearly contemporaneous Oise amber (France), it provides a novel insight on the early diversity of Coccinellidae during the Lowermost Eocene. Nephus subcircularis, also from the Oise amber, is excluded from this genus and considered as a Coccinellidae incertae sedis after reexamination of the holotype. Also Scymnus angulatus and ‘Scymnus (Pullus) aff. kawamurai’ are Coleoptera incertae sedis. Thus there is no longer accurate fossil Scymnini. Curiously, the Coccinellidae are quite infrequent in the Oise amber. The discovery of this new fossil and its assignment to the genus level is significant, as fossils are often used as calibration points in ladybird molecular phylogenies, thereby enabling analyses of the temporal evolution of lineages. The biology of the extant Rhyzobius species remains inadequately documented. Nonetheless, it has been suggested that they can potentially exploit coccid and aphid colonies at earlier and/or later developmental stages. Although coccids and aphids (coccinellid prey) are unknown in the Belgian amber, they are well present in the Oise amber.

Cretohenicops calcaratus (Lithobiomorpha: Henicopidae): A new genus and species of lithobiomorphan centipede from mid-Cretaceous Myanmar amber

2026-01-17T03:56:30+13:00

Fossil evidence indicates that the basal group of Lithobiomorpha had already appeared by the Middle Devonian at the latest. However, no Mesozoic species of Lithobiomorpha have been formally established to date. Here, a new genus and species, Cretohenicops calcaratus sp. nov. (Lithobiomorpha: Henicopidae) is described based on a well-preserved inclusion from mid-Cretaceous Myanmar amber. The new species exhibits a combination of characters that differs from extant relatives: 7+6 coxosternal teeth; uniarticulate tarsi on legs 1–13 and biarticulate tarsus on leg 14; and the female gonopods are equipped with 2+2 small coniform spurs. We also found that Cretohenicops gen. nov. combines the characteristics of distal spinose projections on most tibiae (diagnostic of Henicopidae) and large robust spurs in fixed positions on femora and tibiae (as in Lithobiidae). The discovery of this new genus and species enriches the fossil record of Henicopidae (Lithobiomorpha) from the Mesozoic and provides new fossil evidence for studies on the evolution of Lithobiomorpha.

**A new species of Stephanopachys Waterhouse (Coleoptera: Bostrichidae) from Eocene Rovno amber, with a key to extinct species of the genus and additional fossil record**

2026-05-12T18:35:00+12:00

Based on a well-preserved specimen in Eocene Rovno amber, a new species Stephanopachys groehni sp. nov. (Coleoptera: Bostrichidae) is described and illustrated. The holotypes of two previously described congeners from Baltic amber, S. ambericus Zahradník & Háva, 2015 and S. electron Zahradník & Háva, 2015 are re-examined and illustrated. An additional specimen of S. ambericus from Baltic amber is recorded. A revised and updated identification key to the described fossil Mesozoic and Cenozoic species of the genus is given.

**A new species of the eudominant cockroach Perlucipecta Wei & Ren, 2013 and the role of its coloration in camouflage**

2026-04-14T00:58:00+12:00

The cosmopolitan cockroach genus Perlucipecta Wei & Ren, 2013 is one of the most common taxa within the extinct cockroach family Mesoblattinidae, with a high abundance of remains recorded from several localities around the world. Species within this genus exhibit distinctive coloration patterns on the pronotum and forewings, raising questions about the role of such coloration in predator deterrence. Although the genus is known worldwide, only two species have been discovered so far from the abundant Myanmar amber, including the new species described herein. Perlucipecta jedlickai sp. nov., a female specimen is described with characteristic forewing and pronotum coloration, alongside a remarkably well-preserved ovipositor, offering a view into the transitional cockroach reproduction strategy. The paleogeographical distribution of the genus is also discussed in light of its apparent ecological prominence in the fossil record.

**New unique characters of the mid-Cretaceous genus Punctocorydasialis Chen et al., 2026 (Neuropterida: Corydasialidae)**

2026-05-04T12:37:43+12:00

The mid-Cretaceous Kachin amber genus Punctocorydasialis Chen et al., 2026 is remarkable in many aspects. It is distinguished from others in the family by its spotted forewings (as noted by Chen et al., 2026), short hind wings (0.75 of forewing length) with a simple CuP, and the terminal segment of its presumed labial palps bears an additional minute sub-segment. Its mesonotum has an additional subdivision, i.e., a well-separated middle part, previously not recorded in Neuropterida. An area of modified microtrichia which may have a stridulatory function in the anal space of the forewing found in this species is previously unknown in fossil Neuropterida.

Professor Ole Engel Heie—marking the 100th anniversary of the birth of the pioneering aphidologist who conducted extensive research on fossil aphids

2026-05-26T19:10:26+12:00

Aphids constitute a specific group of insects characterised by a complex lifestyle which involves heterogony combined with host alternation. Such adaptations are closely related to seasons of temperate climates of the northern hemisphere (Heie, 1994; Perkovsky & Wegierek, 2017). Therefore, these hemipterans have attracted keen interest among entomologists in northern regions of Europe and America. The economic importance of these sucking phytophages could not be ignored either. Accordingly, aphid bionomy and phylogeny have been the subject of intensive studies.