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Only a half of Species of Hymenoptera in Rovno Amber Fauna is Common with Baltic Amber
A list of all 117 hymenopteran species recorded from Rovno amber is presented for the fi rst time. Th is list includes 50 named species (43 %) known only in Rovno amber fauna. Of the remaining species, 59 (50 %) are recorded also from Baltic amber, 37 (32 %) from Bitterfeld amber, 26 (22 %) from Scandinavian amber as well. Half of the species (50 %) are known on both sides of the Subparathetys (that is, recorded in Baltic amber as well), and another half is recorded only to south of the Subparathetys (from the Rovno, Bitterfeld and Scandinavian amber only). One subfamily, Eucoilinae Th omson, one tribe, Protomicroidini Antropov, and 19 genera (Archaeocercus Simutnik, Archaeogryon Kononova & Simutnik, Astigmaton Kasparyan, Boltonidris Radchenko & Dlussky, Dipriocampe Bouček, Disogmus Főrster, Fallomyrma Dlussky & Radchenko, Foveorisus Martynova, Lissonota Khalaim, Pristomyrmex Mayr, Protomicroides Antropov, Pseudidris Kononova, Pseudotelea Kononova, Rovenosa Khalaim, Rovnoecus Antropov, Rovnoeucoila Buffi ngton & Perkovsky, Rovnosoma Simutnik, Sierola Cameron, Trjapitzion Simutnik) are recorded only from south of the Subparathetys. Th ese data provide evidence supporting the previously proposed suggestion on the diff erent origin of four main European sources of succinite. Th e data mentioned above confi rm that the source area of the Rovno amber, contrary to the Baltic amber, had been situated southwards from Subparathetys. Platystasius gracilis Kononova & Simutnik and Oxyserphus obsolescens (Brues) are recorded for the fi rst time respectively from Baltic and Scandinavian amber.
Journal Article
An ammonite trapped in Burmese amber
Amber is fossilized tree resin, and inclusions usually comprise terrestrial and, rarely, aquatic organisms. Marine fossils are extremely rare in Cretaceous and Cenozoic ambers. Here, we report a record of an ammonite with marine gastropods, intertidal isopods, and diverse terrestrial arthropods as syninclusions in mid-Cretaceous Burmese amber. We used X-ray–microcomputed tomography (CT) to obtain high-resolution 3D images of the ammonite, including its sutures, which are diagnostically important for ammonites. The ammonite is a juvenile Puzosia (Bhimaites) and provides supporting evidence for a Late Albian–Early Cenomanian age of the amber. There is a diverse assemblage (at least 40 individuals) of arthropods in this amber sample from both terrestrial and marine habitats, including Isopoda, Acari (mites), Araneae (spiders), Diplopoda (millipedes), and representatives of the insect orders Blattodea (cockroaches), Coleoptera (beetles), Diptera (true flies), and Hymenoptera (wasps). The incomplete preservation and lack of soft body of the ammonite and marine gastropods suggest that they were dead and underwent abrasion on the seashore before entombment. It is most likely that the resin fell to the beach from coastal trees, picking up terrestrial arthropods and beach shells and, exceptionally, surviving the high-energy beach environment to be preserved as amber. Our findings not only represent a record of an ammonite in amber but also provide insights into the taphonomy of amber and the paleoecology of Cretaceous amber forests.
Journal Article
Past interactions of ants with other organisms
The question, when ants first appeared, remains unanswered. However, images of ants in Burmese amber show that some extinct types existed back then. By the mid-Cenozoic, most fossil ants could be assigned to extant genera. The present work examines ancient associations between ants and other organisms based on fossils in amber. Topics include fungal associates, interactions with higher plants, associations between ants and arachnids, ants bringing food to the colony, insect parasites and predators, nematode parasites, ants visiting flowers, ant mimics and gut microbes in ants. All specimens included in the present work are listed with the amber source, present location, published accounts and accession numbers of those in the Poinar amber collection (PAC).
Journal Article
Mimes of the past: Eocene midges of the tribe Pseudochironomini (Chironomidae, Diptera) reveal their peculiarities
This is the first study focused on Eocene dipterans of the tribe Pseudochironomini (subfamily Chironominae, family Chironomidae), based on unique materials from Baltic amber. Two new genera and three new species: Eomicromimus gen. nov. with Eomicromimus polliciformis sp. nov. and Eomicromimus serpens sp. nov., and Eoriethia gen. nov. with Eoriethia ursipes sp. nov. are presented. The systematic position of the new taxa is discussed, and an amended key to the identification of adult males of extinct and extant Pseudochironomini genera is provided. The presented analysis of the morphology of the tribe’s fossil members allowed us to verify the concepts regarding the origin/homology of male diagnostic structures crucial in defining new taxa, their phylogeny, and to consolidate the terminology used in chironomid research. A new habitual name for Chironomidae, “mime midges”, is also proposed.
Journal Article
What a trip, Amber Brown
Amber Brown and her parents go to the Poconos for two weeks with Amber's best friend, Justin, and his family. Best friends Amber Brown and Justin Daniels are taking a vacation together. There's just one problem--Justin's little brother wants to tag along.
Book
Golden Orbweavers Ignore Biological Rules
Instances of sexual size dimorphism (SSD) provide the context for rigorous tests of biological rules of size evolution, such as Cope’s rule (phyletic size increase), Rensch’s rule (allometric patterns of male and female size), as well as male and female body size optima. In certain spider groups, such as the golden orbweavers (Nephilidae), extreme female-biased SSD (eSSD, female:male body length ≥2) is the norm. Nephilid genera construct webs of exaggerated proportions, which can be aerial, arboricolous, or intermediate (hybrid). First, we established the backbone phylogeny of Nephilidae using 367 anchored hybrid enrichment markers, then combined these data with classical markers for a reference species-level phylogeny. Second, we used the phylogeny to test Cope and Rensch’s rules, sex specific size optima, and the coevolution of web size, type, and features with female and male body size and their ratio, SSD. Male, but not female, size increases significantly over time, and refutes Cope’s rule. Allometric analyses reject the converse, Rensch’s rule. Male and female body sizes are uncorrelated. Female size evolution is random, but males evolve toward an optimum size (3.2–4.9 mm). Overall, female body size correlates positively with absolute web size. However, intermediate sized females build the largest webs (of the hybrid type), giant female Nephila and Trichonephila build smaller webs (of the aerial type), and the smallest females build the smallest webs (of the arboricolous type). We propose taxonomic changes based on the criteria of clade age, monophyly and exclusivity, classification information content, and diagnosability. Spider families, as currently defined, tend to be between 37 million years old and 98 million years old, and Nephilidae is estimated at 133 Ma (97–146), thus deserving family status. We, therefore, resurrect the family Nephilidae Simon 1894 that contains Clitaetra Simon 1889, the Cretaceous Geratonephila Poinar and Buckley (2012), Herennia Thorell 1877, Indoetra Kuntner 2006, new rank, Nephila Leach 1815, Nephilengys L. Koch 1872, Nephilingis Kuntner 2013, Palaeonephila Wunderlich 2004 from Tertiary Baltic amber, and Trichonephila Dahl 1911, new rank. We propose the new clade Orbipurae to contain Araneidae Clerck 1757, Phonognathidae Simon 1894, new rank, and Nephilidae. Nephilid female gigantism is a phylogenetically ancient phenotype (over 100 Ma), as is eSSD, though their magnitudes vary by lineage.
Journal Article