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Issue: Vol. 5768 No. 1: 9 Mar. 2026
Type: Article
Published: 2026-03-09
DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.5768.1.7
Page range: 113-120
Abstract views: 72
PDF downloaded: 2

The first black fly (Diptera: Simuliidae) from the Lowermost Eocene Oise amber (France)

Institut de Systématique; Évolution; Biodiversité (ISYEB); MNHN; CNRS; SU; EPHE-PSL; UA; CP50; 57 rue Cuvier; F-75005 Paris; France
Institut de Systématique; Évolution; Biodiversité (ISYEB); MNHN; CNRS; SU; EPHE-PSL; UA; CP50; 57 rue Cuvier; F-75005 Paris; France
Institut de Systématique; Évolution; Biodiversité (ISYEB); MNHN; CNRS; SU; EPHE-PSL; UA; CP50; 57 rue Cuvier; F-75005 Paris; France; Université Paris-Cité; Faculté des sciences; 5 rue Thomas Mann; F-75013 Paris; France
Diptera Insecta ‘Nematocera’ Simuliidae oldest record paleoclimate

Abstract

Simulium (Hellichiella) oisense sp. nov., oldest representative of this subgenus, is described from the Lowermost Eocene amber of Oise (Northern France). It shares with this subgenus the pedicel significantly larger than first flagellomere; radius with hair dorsobasally; scutum unpatterned; sensory vesicle typically occupying about one fourth or less of palpomere II; pedisulcus shallow; claws each with basal thumblike; precoxal bridge complete. Compared to the fossil species currently attributed to this subgenus, it is characterized by the presence of 10 antennomeres, palpomere IV shorter than palpomeres II+III, and pedisulcus well distinct. The extant species of this subgenus are Holarctic, living in small sandy streams and under rather cold to cool climates, which does correspond to the paleoenvironment but not the warm paleoclimate of the Oise amber deposit. The subgenus is otherwise known by one species from the Baltic amber and one from the Rovno amber, both Middle Eocene.

 

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How to Cite

Nel, A., Hebert, F. & Muller, V.N. (2026) The first black fly (Diptera: Simuliidae) from the Lowermost Eocene Oise amber (France). Zootaxa, 5768 (1), 113–120. https://doi.org/10.11646/zootaxa.5768.1.7