Palaeoentomology

Earwigs from the late Oligocene crater lake of Enspel, Germany (Dermaptera)

MICHAEL S. ENGEL — 2025-08-29

The Konservat-Lagerstätte of Enspel, Germany preserves an exceptional late Oligocene biota, with abundant remains of insects. Here we provide the first formal descriptions of earwigs from the crater lake of Enspel, all adults and comprising two distinct species. Kraterlabis primordialis gen. et sp. nov. is a possible anisolabidid and is a wholly apterous, including complete absence of tegmina, and is distinguished by the form of the thoracic nota and the distinctive pygidium and cercal forceps. The holotype of Adiathetodes nassauensis gen. et sp. nov., unlike K. primordialis, is heavily pyritized but with lots of character information discernible. The species is likely a chelisochid as indicated by the form of the second tarsomere that projects strongly ventral to the third and with the third nearly as long as the first tarsomere. The genus is distinguished in the form of the pygidium and cercal forceps, as well as the thorax.

New taxa and wing venation disparity in Vitimotauliidae (Trichoptera) from the Lower Cretaceous Yixian Formation

JIA-WEI CHAO — 2025-08-29

Vitimotauliidae, an extinct caddisfly family with the highest Mesozoic palaeobiodiversity, remains poorly represented in China, with only a few species. Herein, based on comparative morphology and geometric morphometric analyses, one new genus, Trichosukatshevia gen. nov., with two new species, T. simplex sp. nov. and T. furcivenata sp. nov., and one new species of Multimodus Sukatsheva, 1968, M. yixianensis sp. nov. are described and illustrated from the Lower Cretaceous of Yixian Formation in China. These discoveries of new taxa significantly enhance the taxonomic diversity of Vitimotauliidae. Notably, among them, Trichosukatshevia gen. nov. represents a novel lineage characterized by an open MC, a previously unreported character in the family. Moreover, morphological variations at the branching point of F4 and cross-vein m-cua are identified, expands the known morphological disparity of wing venation in Vitimotauliidae. This study highlights the evolutionary and morphological complexity of Mesozoic caddisflies, providing critical insights into their diversification during the Early Cretaceous.

Calyptrate flies in fossil resin from Mexico and Tanzania

LUCAS R. P. GOMES — 2025-08-29

Fossil Calyptratae flies are exclusively found in the Cenozoic. Calyptrates arose around the K-T boundary and rapidly diversified in the early Tertiary. Only a few species of fossil Calyptratae are known from fossil resins such as Baltic amber, Dominican amber, and East African copal or Defaunation resin. However, these preserved organisms provide valuable insights into the evolutionary and ecological history of calyptrate flies. In this study, we describe Mesembrinella guimaraesi sp. nov. (Mesembrinellidae) from Miocene Mexican amber, representing the first record of a calyptrate from this fossiliferous site; and we report Dichaetomyia immaculiventris Malloch as the first occurrence of Dichaetomyia Malloch (Muscidae) in Tanzanian copal. We also briefly discuss the abundance of calyptrate flies in resins and actualistic experiments.

**The first fossil species of Hermetia Latreille, 1804 (Diptera: Stratiomyidae) in Miocene Mexican amber**

DIEGO AGUILAR FACHIN — 2025-08-29

The first fossil species of Hermetia Latreille, 1804 (Diptera: Stratiomyidae) is described as Hermetia cenoteevani sp. nov., based on a female specimen preserved in Miocene Mexican amber. This new Hermetia species shares with the extant species Hermetia flavipes Wiedemann, 1830 and with Hermetia teevani Curran, 1934 a short and slender body shape, bare eyes, and the presence of a subtle beak-like projection in the face. Hermetia cenoteevani sp. nov. is distinguished by a light-colored scutellum on its distal two-thirds and light-colored abdominal tergites with dark transverse bands on tergites 1–5, with no semi-translucent area on tergites 1–2. Hermetiella bifurcata Meunier, 1908, the only other fossil species previously assigned to the Hermetiinae, does not fit within this subfamily or even Stratiomyidae. Therefore, we place it as incertae sedis within the suborder Brachycera.

The first water-penny beetle (Coleoptera: Psephenidae) in Baltic amber, with a list of Dryopoidea described from the mid-late Eocene European ambers

VITALII ALEKSEEV — 2025-08-29

Based on a well-preserved adult inclusion in Baltic amber, the first extinct species of the subfamily Eubriinae and the first representative of the family Psephenidae from the Eocene fossil resin is described and illustrated. The new fossil species belonging to the extant genus, Macroeubria groehni sp. nov., is compared with related extant taxa. Two additional fossil records of previously described Dryopoidea from Eocene Baltic amber of the Sambian Peninsula deposited in the collection of the Kaliningrad amber museum are provided. A brief updated list of the described Dryopoidea species from Baltic and Rovno ambers is compiled. The currently described diversity of the superfamily in the mid-late Eocene European ambers consists of 11 extinct species belonging to nine genera within five families.

New fossil genera of Ricaniidae (Hemiptera: Fulgoromorpha) from the Roof of the World

ADAM STROIŃSKI — 2025-08-29

Two new monospecific genera of ricaniid planthoppers (Hemiptera: Fulgoromorpha: Ricaniidae) are described from the Paleocene deposits of the Niubao Formation, in the Dazhuoma area, Gangni Township, Qiangtang Basin of the Qinghai-Tibetan Plateau. The new genera are described—Gshogpa gen. nov., with Gshogpa linqibini sp. nov., and Rdo gen. nov., with Rdo gangniensis sp. nov. This marks the first occurrence of Ricaniidae in these strata, and the earliest fossil record of Ricaniidae in Asia. The following points are briefly discussed: the morphology of the tegmen venation of new fossils, their biogeographical significance as the first extinct representatives of the family from Asia, and the fossil record of Ricaniidae in the context of molecular divergence dating proposals.

Anaspis Geoffroy, 1762 subgenus Spanisa Emery, 1876 (Coleoptera: Scraptiidae) as Paleogene relicts

DMITRY TELNOV — 2025-08-29

Anaspis (Spanisa) solodovnikovi sp. nov., the second known representative of its genus and subgenus from the late Eocene Rovno amber of Ukraine, is described and illustrated. The taxonomic position is confirmed, and supplementary description and images are provided for the Eocene Baltic amber A. (Silaria) parva Abdullah, 1964. A key to extant and extinct species of the subgenus Spanisa Emery, 1876 is presented for the first time. Morphology and new taxonomic position of Anaspis (incertae sedis) subhumerosa Franciscolo, 1954 are briefly discussed; this species is excluded from the subgenus Spanisa. Extant Spanisa species are allopatric, but in Rovno amber they are sympatric likely because of their adaptation to the ‘extinct’ equable Eocene climate. New faunistic records are provided for the extant A. (Spanisa) labiata A. Costa, 1854 and A. (Spanisa) subtilis Hampe, 1871.

**Fast mandibles, sharp eyes: A new fossil species of Odontomachus (Latreille, 1804) gr. cornutus (Formicidae: Ponerinae) from Mexican amber formation**

EDER CLEYTON BARBOSA FRANÇA — 2025-08-29

Odontomachus is a remarkable ant genus due to the fast mandibles with kinetic action, ocular prominences and pyriform head. Currently, there are three known fossil species, O. paleomyagra Wappler et al., a compression fossil from Czech Republic, O. pseudobauri De Andrade and O. spinifer De Andrade both from Dominican amber. Here, we describe the first Mexican fossil species from Chiapas amber formation and also the first gyne specimen, namely Odontomachus angulops sp. nov. This species is the second described species for the cornutus group, also composed of the extant species O. cornutus Stitz. The ocular prominences forming angular projections, and the unique combination of wing venation characters and petiole shape, reinforce the cornutus group as a distinct taxon in the genus. We also discuss, based on the external morphology of the fossil, a phylogenetic hypothesis for the cornutus group placement in relation to the other Neotropical Odontomachus groups.

A new genus of diapriid wasp (Hymenoptera: Diaprioidea) from mid-Cretaceous Kachin amber with plesiomorphic fore wing venation

MANUEL BRAZIDEC — 2025-08-29

The parasitoid wasp family Diapriidae, and the Belytinae subfamily in particular, are abundant in the fossil record, yet understudied. In this contribution, a new genus and species of belytine wasp is described and illustrated, based on two males from the Cenomanian Kachin amber: Eoaclista exquisita gen. et sp. nov. The new taxon is particular as it retains the 1cu-a and 2cu-a veins as tubular on the fore wing, a character previously only found in the Monomachidae for the Diaprioidea superfamily. Eoaclista exquisita gen. et sp. nov. shows that the 2cu-a vein was still present in early diverging Diapriidae, and that it has been lost at least three times in the family, and five times in the superfamily. It also highlights that the relationships within the Diaprioidea are still poorly understood and that wing characters should be treated with caution in a phylogenetic context.

A new genus of beaded lacewings (Neuroptera, Berothidae) from the mid-Cretaceous Kachin amber, with implications on the evolution of mouthparts and genital sclerites

YAN-QING WANG — 2025-08-29

A new genus, Rhynchoberotha gen. nov. with two new species (Rhynchoberotha zhangae sp. nov. and Rhynchoberotha biyi sp. nov.) of the lacewing family Berothidae from the mid-Cretaceous Kachin amber are described. The new genus is closely related to Aggregataberotha Wang et al., 2023 and Sejunctaberotha Chen et al., 2024 by having similar forewing venation. Remarkably, the new genus is featured by the presence of a rostrum formed by the elongated chewing-mandibulate mouthparts. Another notable finding refers to the preservation of a mating pair of R. biyi sp. nov., which represents the first record of mating behaviour in fossil Neuroptera. Our new finding highlights the morphological diversity of Berothidae during the Cretaceous, and provides a new insight to the early evolution of mouthparts and genital sclerites.

An extraordinary ‘nogodinid’ planthopper (Hemiptera: Fulgoroidea) from the earliest Eocene Fur Fm. of Denmark

THOMAS J. SIMONSEN — 2025-08-29

The Ypresian Fur Formation in northwestern Denmark is one of the most famous and important sources of insect fossils from the early Eocene (ca. 55–54 Ma, Pedersen et al., 2012; Madsen & Rasmussen, 2021). The first insect fossils from the formation were described more than 100 years ago by Henriksen (1922), and today approximately 100 species have been described from more than 20,000 known fossils (TJS, JAR, RLS pers. observ.). Although the hemipteran suborder Auchenorrhyncha (cicadas, leafhoppers, planthoppers and allies) comprise one of the major components of this massive body of fossils (Rust, 1999; pers. unpublished obs.) only six species have been formally described to date. Of these the most recently described species, Archerythrogonia furensis Dietrich & Perkovsky, 2023 belongs to the infraorder Cicadomorpha (Dietrich & Perkovsky, 2023). The remaining five species all belong to the infraorder Fulgoromorpha (Szwedo et al., 2004).

**Another species of Palaeoglaesum (Diptera, Psychodidae, Bruchomyiinae) from mid-Cretaceous Kachin amber**

SZYMON KACZMAREK — 2025-08-29

Bruchomyiinae is a small subfamily of moth flies (Psychodidae) which includes fewer than 60 species restricted to tropical and subtropical regions (Curler & Jacobson, 2012; Wagner & Stuckenberg, 2016; Wagner, 2017; Skibińska & Santos, 2023). Despite their low species diversity, representatives of this subfamily are relatively common in the fossil record. To date, 28 fossil species across five genera have been identified. All known fossil representatives are preserved as inclusions in various fossil resins, ranging in age from Lower Cretaceous Lebanese amber (Azar et al., 2022) to Lower Miocene Dominican amber (Wagner, 2017). The genus Palaeoglaesum Wagner, 2017 is an extinct taxon known exclusively from Kachin amber, Myanmar. This genus comprises 15 species distributed in two subgenera: Palaeoglaesum (Palaeoglaesum) and Palaeoglaesum (Amplissimum) (Skibińska & Santos, 2023). This genus is the most diverse fossil representative of this subfamily. Diagnostic characters of Palaeoglaesum include a small body size (approximately 2‒2.5 mm), dense setation, a head with a median longitudinal strip of setae, elongate mouthparts with prominent labellum, and an oval wing with a broadly rounded apex. The vein R₂₊₃ is at least twice as long as R₂, and the radial fork is positioned distally to the medial fork. Male genitalia exhibit either an elongated, apically bifurcated aedeagus or a short, non-bifurcated form, both surrounded at the base by a sleeve-like parameral sheath (Skibińska et al., 2021; Skibińska & Santos, 2023). The high number of Palaeoglaesum species found in Kachin amber suggests that the tropical, near-coastal climate of the mid-Cretaceous Myanmar amber forest provided favorable conditions for a high diversity of Bruchomyiinae. Their ecology is closely associated with forest habitat, particularly tree hollows, forest litter, and tree trunks, which likely contributed to their frequent preservation in amber. The ongoing discoveries of new fossil taxa suggests that the diversity of Bruchomyiinae during the Cretaceous was likely much greater than it is today (Skibińska et al., 2019, 2023).

Meunieromyia, a new genus of Medeterinae (Diptera: Dolichopodidae) from Eocene Baltic amber

IGOR YA. GRICHANOV — 2025-08-29

Until recently, the Eocene Baltic amber fauna of long-legged flies (Dolichopodidae) was superficially studied (Grichanov, 2023, 2024; Bickel & Martin, 2025). Most species described in 20 extant genera (Meunier, 1908) were placed by Grichanov in the following extinct genera of four extant subfamilies: dolichopodine Prohercostomus Grichanov, 1997, peloropeodine Palaeomedeterus Meunier, 1895, sciapodine Wheelerenomyia Meunier, 1907, and medeterine genera with the highest species richness, i.e., Medeterites Grichanov, 2010, Palaeosystenus Grichanov et al., 2014, Plesiomedetera Grichanov, 2023, and Systenites Grichanov et al., 2014. Recently, Bickel & Martin (2025) described two more extinct medeterine genera, Kashubia Bickel, 2025 and Eridanomyia Bickel, 2025 with five species, and nine extinct species of extant Atlatlia Bickel, 1986, all in the subfamily Medeterinae.