On the value of Burmese amber for understanding insect evolution: Insights from †Heterobathmilla - an exceptional stem group genus of Strepsiptera (Insecta)

Burmese amber and amber from other periods and regions became a rich source of new extinct insect species and yielded important insights in insect evolution in the dimension of time. Amber fossils have contributed to the understanding of the phylogeny, biology, and biogeography of insects and other groups, and have also gained great importance for dating molecular trees. Another major potential is the documentation of faunal, floral and climatic shifts. Evolutionary transitions can be well-documented in amber fossils and can reveal anatomical transformations and the age of appearance of structural features. Here, using a new stem group species of Strepsiptera from Burmite, we evaluate this potential of amber insect fossils to assess the current phylogeny of Strepsiptera, with the main emphasis on the early splitting events in the stem group. Amber fossils have greatly contributed to the understanding of the evolution of Strepsiptera in the late Mesozoic and the Cenozoic. †Heterobathmilla kakopoios Pohl and Beutel gen. et sp. n. described here is placed in the stem group of the order, in a clade with †Kinzelbachilla (†Kinzelbachillidae) and †Phthanoxenos (†Phthanoxenidae). †Phthanoxenidae has priority over †Kinzelbachillidae, and the latter is synonymised. The superb details available from this new fossil allowed us to explore unique features of the antennae, mouthparts, and male copulatory apparatus, and to provide a phylogenetic hypothesis for the order. The younger †Protoxenos from Eocene Baltic amber was confirmed as sister to all remaining extinct and extant groups of Strepsiptera, whereas the position of the Cretaceous †Cretostylops in the stem group remains ambivalent. While the value of Burmite and amber from other periods has a recognized impact on our knowledge of the evolution in various lineages, this new fossil does not fundamentally change our picture of the phylogeny and evolution of early Strepsiptera. However, it offers new insights into the morphological diversity in the early evolution of the group.

Taxonomic Review of Fossil Coleopterous Families (Insecta, Coleoptera). Suborder Archostemata: Superfamilies Coleopseoidea and Cupedoidea

The paper is the first of a series, which aims to present a consistent interpretation of the suprageneric taxa of fossil beetles in the current century and their generic and species composition. Order Coleoptera is considered in composition of the superorder Coleopteroidea Handlirsch, 1903 (= Coleopterida sensu Boudreaux, 1979, nec Pearse, 1936) together with orders Skleroptera and Strepsiptera, and also with the family Umenocoleidae of unclear position. This paper includes the archostematan superfamilies Coleopseoidea and Cupedoidea of the infraorder Cupediformia, i.e., Coleopseidae (one genus and one species), Tshekardocoleidae (12 genera, 15 species), Labradorocoleidae (one genus, one species), Permocupedidae (together with Taldycupedinae, stat. nov., 24 genera and 54 species) and Cupedidae (three subfamilies, 49 genera, 253 species). The preliminary information on structure of the larva of Tshekardocoleidae from Tshekarda is done. There are also described the new taxa: genus Afrotaldycupes Kirejtshuk, gen. nov. with the type species: genus Taldycupes africanus Ponomarenko in Ponomarenko & Mostovski, 2005 [Afrotaldycupes africanus comb. nov.] and Afrotaldycupes lidgettoniensis (Ponomarenko in Ponomarenko & Mostovski, 2005), comb. nov. [Taldycupes]; genus Allophalerus Kirejtshuk, gen. nov. with the type species: Tetraphalerus aphaleratus Ponomarenko, 1969 [Allophalerus aphaleratus comb. nov.], and also with Allophalerus antiquus (Ponomarenko, 1964), comb. nov. [Tetraphalerus], Allophalerus bontsaganensis (Ponomarenko, 1997), comb. nov. [Tetraphalerus], Allophalerus incertus (Ponomarenko, 1969), comb. nov. [Tetraphalerus], Allophalerus latus (Tan, Ren et Shih, 2007), comb. nov. [Tetraphalerus], Allophalerus maximus (Ponomarenko, 1968), comb. nov. [Tetraphalerus], Allophalerus okhotensis (Ponomarenko, 1993), comb. nov. [Tetraphalerus], Allophalerus tenuipes (Ponomarenko, 1964), comb. nov. [Tetraphalerus], Allophalerus verrucosus (Ponomarenko, 1966), comb. nov. [Tetraphalerus]; genus Bukhkalius Kirejtshuk et Jarzembowski, gen. nov. with the type species: Tetraphalerus lindae Jarzembowski, Wang et Zheng, 2017 [Bukhkalius lindae comb. nov.]; genus Burmocoleus Kirejtshuk, gen. nov. with the type species: Burmocoleus prisnyi sp. nov. and Burmocoleus zhiyuani (Liu, Tan, Ślipiński, Jarzembowski, Wang, Ren et Pang, 2017), comb. nov. [Brochocoleus]; genus Cionocups Kirejtshuk, gen. nov. with the type species: Cionocups manukyani sp. nov.; genus Echinocups Kirejtshuk et Jarzembowski, gen. nov. with the type species: Notocupes neli Tihelka, Huang et Cai, 2020 [Echinocups neli comb. nov.], and also Echinocups ohmkuhnlei (Jarzembowski, Wang et Zheng, 2020), comb. nov. [Notocupes] and Echinocups denticollis (Jiang, Li, Song, Shi, Liu, Chen et Kong, 2020), comb. nov. [Notocupes]; genus Jarzembowskops Kirejtshuk, gen. nov. with the type species: Brochocoleus caseyi Jarzembowski, Wang et Zheng, 2016 [Jarzembowskops caseyi comb. nov.]; genus Lobanovia Kirejtshuk, gen. nov. with the type species: Simmondsia permiana Ponomarenko, 2013 [Lobanovia permiana comb. nov.]; genus Pintolla Kirejtshuk, gen. nov. with the type species: Kaltanicupes ponomarenkoi Pinto, 1987 [Pintolla ponomarenkoi comb. nov.]; genus Polyakius Kirejtshuk, gen. nov. with the type species: Polyakius alberti Kirejtshuk, sp. nov. and Polyakius pubescens Kirejtshuk, sp. nov.; Clessidromma zengi Kirejtshuk, sp. nov.; Cupes golovatchi Kirejtshuk, sp. nov.; Cupes legalovi Kirejtshuk, sp. nov.; Cupes lutzi Kirejtshuk, sp. nov.; Cupes nabozhenkoi Kirejtshuk, sp. nov.; Cupes wedmannae Kirejtshuk, sp. nov.; Mallecupes prokini Kirejtshuk, sp. nov. and Omma janetae Kirejtshuk, sp. nov. The new synonymy is established for the generic names Clessidromma Jarzembowski, Wang et Zheng, 2017 and Lepidomma Jarzembowski, Wang et Zheng, 2019, syn. nov. The rank of Cainomerga A. Kirejtshuk, Nel et P. Kirejtshuk, 2016 is elevated from subgeneric to generic. Also other new combinations are proposed: Cainomerga brevicornis (A. Kirejtshuk, Nel et P. Kirejtshuk, 2016), comb. nov. [Mesocupes], Cainomerga fraterna (A. Kirejtshuk, Nel et P. Kirejtshuk, 2016), comb. nov. [Mesocupes], Cainomerga immaculata (Piton, 1940: 194), comb. nov. [Zonabris, Mesocupes], Cainomerga palaeocenica (A. Kirejtshuk, Nel et P. Kirejtshuk, 2016), comb. nov. [Mesocupes], and Cainomerga ponti (A. Kirejtshuk, Nel et P. Kirejtshuk, 2016), comb. nov. [Mesocupes], Clessidromma tianae (Jarzembowski, Wang et Zheng, 2019), comb. nov. [Lepidomma], Diluticupes applanatus (Tan et Ren, 2009), comb. nov. [Brochocoleus], Diluticupes crowsonae (Jarzembowski, Yan, Wang et Zhang. 2013), comb. nov. [Brochocoleus], Diluticupes magnus (Tan et Ren, 2009), comb. nov. [Brochocoleus], Diluticupes minor (Ponomarenko, 2000), comb. nov. [Brochocoleus], Diluticupes validus (Tan et Ren, 2009), comb. nov. [Brochocoleus], Diluticupes yangshuwanziensis (Jarzembowski, Yan, Wang et Zhang. 2013), comb. nov. [Brochocoleus], Monticupes curtinervis (Tan, Ren et Shih, 2007), comb. nov. [Tetraphalerus], Monticupes decorosus (Tan, Wang, Ren et Yang, 2012), comb. nov. [Tetraphalerus], Odontomma sulcatum (Tan, Ren et Shih, 2007), comb. nov. [Brochocoleus], Omma ancistrodontum (Tan, Wang, Ren et Yang, 2012), comb. nov. [Pareuryomma], Omma grande (Ponomarenko, 1964), comb. nov. [Tetraphalerus], Omma longicolle (Ponomarenko, 1997), comb. nov. [Tetraphalerus], Pareuryomma angustum (Tan, Ren et Shich, 2007), comb. nov. [Brochocoleus], Pareuryomma magnum (Tan et Ren, 2009), comb. nov. [Brochocoleus], Zygadenia aliena (Tan et Ren, 2006), comb. nov. [Ovatocupes], Zygadenia baojiatunensis (Hong 1992), comb. nov. [Chengdecupes], Zygadenia brachycephala (Ponomarenko, 1994), comb. nov. [Notocupes], Zygadenia caduca (Ponomarenko, 1969), comb. nov. [Notocupes], Zygadenia caudata (Ponomarenko, 1966), comb. nov. [Notocupes], Zygadenia cellulosa (Ponomarenko, 1969), comb. nov. [Notocupes], Zygadenia crassa (Ponomarenko, 1969), comb. nov., [Notocupes], Zygadenia cyclodontus (Tan, Ren, Shih et Ge, 2006), comb. nov. [Amblomma, Notocupes], Zygadenia dischdes (Zhang, 1986), comb. nov. [Notocupes], Notocupes dundulaensis (Ponomarenko, 1994), comb. nov. [Notocupes], Zygadenia elegans (Ponomarenko, 1994), comb. nov. [Notocupes], Zygadenia epicharis (Tan, Ren et Liu, 2005), comb. nov. [Amblomma, Notocupes], Zygadenia eumeura (Tan, Ren et Liu, 2005), comb. nov. [Amblomma, Notocupes], Zygadenia excellens (Ponomarenko, 1966), comb. nov. [Notocupes], Zygadenia exigua (Ponomarenko, 1994), comb. nov. [Notocupes], Zygadenia foersteri (Ponomarenko, 1971), comb. nov. [Procarabus, Notocupes], Zygadenia homora (Lin, 1986), comb. nov. [Conexicoxa, Notocupes], Zygadenia issykkulensis (Ponomarenko, 1969), comb. nov. [Notocupes], Zygadenia jurassica (Hong 1983), comb. nov. [Chengdecupes], Zygadenia kezuoensis (Hong 1987), comb. nov. [Chengdecupes], Zygadenia khasurtuiensis (Strelnikova, 2019), comb. nov. [Notocupes], Zygadenia khetanensis (Ponomarenko, 1993), comb. nov. [Notocupes], Zygadenia kirghizica (Ponomarenko, 1969), comb. nov. [Notocupes], Zygadenia laeta (Lin, 1976), [Tetraphalerus], Zygadenia laiyangensis (Hong et Wang, 1990), comb. nov. [Forticupes, Notocupes], Zygadenia lapidaria (Ponomarenko, 1968), comb. nov. [Notocupes], Zygadenia laticella (Ponomarenko, 1969), comb. nov. [Notocupes], Zygadenia lata (Ponomarenko, 1969), comb. nov. [Notocupes], Zygadenia lenta (Ren, Lu, Guo et Ji, 1995), comb. nov. [Tetraphalerus], Zygadenia lini (Ponomarenko, Yan, Wang et Zhang, 2012), comb. nov. [Notocupes], Zygadenia longicollis (Ponomarenko, 1994), comb. nov. [Notocupes], Zygadenia ludongensis (Wang et Liu, 1996), comb. nov. [Notocupes], Zygadenia minuscula (Tan, Ren, Shih et Ge, 2006), comb. nov. [Amblomma, Notocupes], Zygadenia mongolica (Ponomarenko, 1994), comb. nov. [Notocupes], Zygadenia nigrimonticola (Ponomarenko, 1968), comb. nov. [Notocupes], Zygadenia oxypyga (Ponomarenko, 1969), comb. nov. [Notocupes], Zygadenia patula (Ponomarenko, 1985), comb. nov. [Notocupes], Zygadenia pingi (Ponomarenko et Ren, 2010), comb. nov. [Notocupes], Zygadenia porrecta (Tan, Ren, Shih et Ge, 2006), comb. nov. [Amblomma, Notocupes], Zygadenia protensa (Tan, Ren, Shih et Ge, 2006), comb. nov. [Amblomma, Notocupes], Zygodenia psilata (Tan, Ren et Liu, 2005), comb. nov. [Amblomma, Notocupes], , Zygadenia pulchra Ponomarenko, 1968, comb. nov. [Notocupes], Zygadenia reticulata (Oppenheim, 1888), comb. nov. [Procarabus, Notocupes], Notocupes rostrata (Ponomarenko, 1969), comb. nov. [Notocupes], Zygadenia rudis (Tan, Ren et Liu, 2005), comb. nov. [Amblomma, Notocupes], Zygadenia shiluoensis (Hong 1984), comb. nov. [Chengdecupes], Zygadenia sogutensis (Ponomarenko, 1969), comb. nov., Zygadenia stabilis (Tan, Ren et Liu, 2005), comb. nov. [Amblomma, Notocupes], Zygadenia tenuis (Ponomarenko, 1969), comb. nov. [Notocupes], Zygadenia tripartita (Oppenheim, 1888), comb. nov. [Procarabus, Notocupes], Zygadenia tuanwangensis (Hong et Wang, 1990), comb. nov. [Picticupes, Notocupes], Zygadenia valida (Lin, 1976), comb. nov. [Sinocupes, Notocupes], Zygadenia vitimensis (Ponomarenko, 1966), comb. nov. [Notocupes].

Diversification of insects since the Devonian: a new approach based on morphological disparity of mouthparts

The majority of the analyses of the evolutionary history of the megadiverse class Insecta are based on the documented taxonomic palaeobiodiversity. A different approach, poorly investigated, is to focus on morphological disparity, linked to changes in the organisms' functioning. Here we establish a hierarchy of the great geological epochs based on a new method using Wagner parsimony and a 'presence/absence of a morphological type of mouthpart of Hexapoda' dataset. We showed the absence of major rupture in the evolution of the mouthparts, but six epochs during which numerous innovations and few extinctions happened, i.e., Late Carboniferous, Middle and Late Triassic, 'Callovian-Oxfordian', 'Early' Cretaceous, and 'Albian-Cenomanian'. The three crises Permian-Triassic, Triassic-Jurassic, and Cretaceous-Cenozoic had no strong, visible impact on mouthparts types. We particularly emphasize the origination of mouthparts linked to nectarivory during the Cretaceous Terrestrial Revolution. We also underline the origination of mouthparts linked to phytophagy during the Middle and the Late Triassic, correlated to the diversification of the gymnosperms, especially in relation to the complex 'flowers' producing nectar of the Bennettitales and Gnetales.