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Issue: Vol. 5792 No. 1: 10 Apr. 2026
Type: Article
Published: 2026-04-10
DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.5792.1.10
Page range: 175-182
Abstract views: 70
PDF downloaded: 4

A new mid-Cretaceous Apsilocephalidae (Diptera) with elongated mouthparts from Kachin amber

College of Life Sciences; Capital Normal University; Xisanhuanbeilu; 105; Beijing; 100101; China; Guangdong Key Laboratory of Animal Conservation and Resource Utilization; Guangdong Public Laboratory of Wild Animal Conservation and Utilization; Institute of Zoology; Guangdong Academy of Sciences; Xingangxilu; 105; Guangzhou; 510260; China
College of Life Sciences; Capital Normal University; Xisanhuanbeilu; 105; Beijing; 100101; China
College of Arts; Hebei GEO University; Hebei GEO University; 601 Hebeidadao Road; Gaocheng District; Shijiazhuang 052161; China
College of Life Sciences; Capital Normal University; Xisanhuanbeilu; 105; Beijing; 100101; China
College of Life Sciences; Capital Normal University; Xisanhuanbeilu; 105; Beijing; 100101; China; Guangdong Key Laboratory of Animal Conservation and Resource Utilization; Guangdong Public Laboratory of Wild Animal Conservation and Utilization; Institute of Zoology; Guangdong Academy of Sciences; Xingangxilu; 105; Guangzhou; 510260; China
Diptera Mid-Cretaceous Kachin amber Brachycera Apsilocephalidae mouthpart

Abstract

A new Cretaceous apsilocephalid genus and species, namely †Protapsilocephala longisetosa gen. et sp. nov. (Apsilocephalidae) is described from mid-Cretaceous Kachin amber (~99 Ma). Its mouthpart morphology indicates a nectarivorous feeding habit, suggesting a role as a pollinator during the Cretaceous. This finding offers critical fossil evidence for the evolution of specialized feeding ecology in lower brachyceran flies and highlights the morphological and ecological diversity of the Apsilocephalidae in the Mesozoic.

 

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How to Cite

Feng, Q., Jia, X., Wang, S., Ren, D. & Wang, Y. (2026) A new mid-Cretaceous Apsilocephalidae (Diptera) with elongated mouthparts from Kachin amber. Zootaxa, 5792 (1), 175–182. https://doi.org/10.11646/zootaxa.5792.1.10