A new fossil evaniid wasp from Eocene Baltic amber, with highly modified compound eyes unique within the Hymenoptera

AbstractEvaniid wasps develop as solitary egg predators within the oothecae of cockroaches. Fossil evaniids are relatively common compared with most other parasitoid Hymenoptera, undoubtedly due to their searching for host cockroaches on tree trunks and thus an increased chance of being trapped in tree resin. The genusParevaniaKieffer, 1907 is widely distributed through the Old World and is also known from a small number of rather unremarkable fossil taxa. Here we add to this extinct faunaParevania oculiseparataJennings, Krogmann, and Austin new species from Baltic Eocene amber, a species that has highly modified compound eyes that are unique among the Hymenoptera, and possibly among insects as a whole.Parevania oculiseparatan. sp. possesses a prominent acute ridge extending across the entire dorso-ventral elongation of the eye surface. Modifications to the regular curved surface of the eyes are extremely rare among Hymenoptera and previously were only known from two species ofInostemmaHaliday, 1833 (Platygastridae s. s.) and the three known species ofIsomeralaShipp, 1894 (Eucharitidae). In describing this unusual fossil evaniid species, we also analyze the optical consequences of the eye surface discontinuity, and discuss different types of compound eye modifications that occur in other Hymenoptera and other insects.

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A new species of anapid spider (Araneae: Araneoidea, Anapidae) in Eocene Baltic amber, imaged using phase contrast X-ray computed micro-tomography

Zootaxa ◽

10.11646/zootaxa.2742.1.4 ◽

2011 ◽

Vol 2742 (1) ◽

pp. 60 ◽

Cited By ~ 17

Author(s):

DAVID PENNEY ◽

ANDREW MCNEIL ◽

DAVID I. GREEN ◽

ROBERT BRADLEY ◽

YURI M. MARUSIK ◽

...

Keyword(s):

New Species ◽

Phase Contrast ◽

Baltic Amber ◽

X Ray ◽

The Family ◽

X Ray Computed ◽

Micro Tomography ◽

The Baltic ◽

A New Species ◽

Eocene Amber

A new species of the extant spider family Anapidae is described from a fossil mature male in Eocene amber from the Baltic region and tentatively assigned to the genus Balticoroma Wunderlich, 2004. Phase contrast X-ray computed micro-tomography was used to reveal important features that were impossible to view using traditional microscopy. Balticoroma wheateri new species is easily diagnosed from all other anapids by having clypeal extensions that run parallel to the ectal surface of the chelicerae and in having the metatarsus of the first leg highly reduced and modified into what is presumably a y-shaped clasping structure. Although only a single extant anapid species occurs in northern Europe, the family was diverse in the Eocene. The discovery of yet another anapid species in Baltic amber supports the idea that Eocene European forests may have been a hotspot of evolution for this family of spiders.

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Research of Curved Artificial Compound Eyes Based on MEMS Technology

Key Engineering Materials ◽

10.4028/www.scientific.net/kem.483.407 ◽

2011 ◽

Vol 483 ◽

pp. 407-410

Author(s):

Qing He ◽

Jing Quan Liu ◽

Chun Sheng Yang

Keyword(s):

Optical Imaging ◽

Compound Eye ◽

Imaging System ◽

Curved Surface ◽

Compound Eyes ◽

Ccd Imaging ◽

Mems Technology ◽

Optical Imaging System ◽

Imaging Sensor ◽

The Impact

This paper studies the fabrication of curved surface artificial compound eyes and application in the optical imaging system. At present, the planar artificial compound eyes imaging system has narrow field of view angle because of its flat array structure of compound eyes. The preparation process of some existed curved surface artificial compound eyes is very complex and is very difficult to guarantee their exact curvature of the substrate. This paper presents a new method to fabricate the curved artificial compound eyes precisely based on MEMS technology The base diameter of the compound eye lens surface is 8mm and the height is 3mm, which includes thousands of compound eyelet. The diameter of the eyelet is 170μm, and the height is18μm. We use this curved artificial compound eyes and CCD imaging sensor assembly,aside from the impact of edge effects,we get the multi-angle and multi-dimensional photography to one object in the center of the imaging area. Therefore, the curved artificial compound eyes optical imaging system has a strong advantage in the dynamic spatial orientation.

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Fourth Contribution on Late Eocene Amber Silken Fungus Beetles: A New Baltic Amber Species of Atomaria (Coleoptera, Clavicornia, Cryptophagidae)

Vestnik Zoologii ◽

10.2478/vzoo-2013-0028 ◽

2013 ◽

Vol 47 (3) ◽

pp. 63-66 ◽

Cited By ~ 1

Author(s):

G. Yu. Lyubarsky ◽

E. E. Perkovsky

Keyword(s):

New Species ◽

Middle Eocene ◽

Late Eocene ◽

Baltic Amber ◽

Biting Midge ◽

The Baltic ◽

Eocene Amber

Atomaria gedanicola Lyubarsky et Perkovsky, sp. n., a new cryptophagid species from Baltic amber is described. The new species is the first recorded Eocene Atomariinae. The new species is similar to A. fuscipes Gyllenhal. It differs from the latter in having pronotum flat, posterior angles of pronotum obtuse, and antenna short. The record of A. gedanicola syninclused with Ceratopogon biting midge supports the Late Eocene age of the Baltic amber, for the Holarctic affinities of both taxa are incompatible with the paratropical climate characteristic of the Mid-European Middle Eocene.

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A new fossil soldier beetle (Coleoptera: Cantharidae: Malthininae) from Baltic amber

Zootaxa ◽

10.11646/zootaxa.4629.4.6 ◽

2019 ◽

Vol 4629 (4) ◽

pp. 583-588 ◽

Cited By ~ 1

Author(s):

FABRIZIO FANTI ◽

ELŻBIETA SONTAG

Keyword(s):

New Species ◽

Phylogenetic Relationships ◽

Baltic Amber ◽

A New Species ◽

Eocene Amber

The very abundant representatives of the genus Malthodes Kiesenwetter, 1852 from the Eocene amber forests show a remarkable diversity of body forms, especially regarding the last abdominal segments, both tergites and sternites. These structures are important during the mating. In the present work, we describe a new species, Malthodes gedanicus sp. nov. characterized by the last sternite elongated and apically divided into two long and flat squarish lobes with three tips of which the central is longest, and by the last tergite elongated and spatuliform apically. The phylogenetic relationships based only on the shape of the last abdominal segments remain unclear and the new species is very vaguely similar to M. trifurcatus Kiesenwetter, 1852.

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New species of bristletails of the family Machilidae (Archaeognatha) from Kazakhstan

Acta Entomologica Musei Nationalis Pragae ◽

10.37520/aemnp.2021.024 ◽

2021 ◽

pp. 435-445

Author(s):

Vladimir Kaplin ◽

Georgiy Shakula

Keyword(s):

New Species ◽

Body Shape ◽

Compound Eye ◽

Ventral Surface ◽

Maxillary Palp ◽

The Body ◽

Compound Eyes ◽

Labial Palp ◽

The Family ◽

One New Species

The fauna of bristletails of the family Machilidae in Kazakhstan currently includes one species of the genus Silvestrichiloides Mendes, 1990 and 13 species of the genus Allopsontus Silvestri, 1911. The present study describes one new species of the genus Silvestrichiloides (S. berkarensis Kaplin, sp. nov. from South Kazakhstan) and two new species of the genus Allopsontus (A. (Kaplinilis) nigrostriatus Kaplin, sp. nov. and A. (Machilanus) perfectus Kaplin, sp. nov. from Southeastern Kazakhstan). Silvestrichiloides berkarensis sp. nov. differs from the other species of this genus in the structure of antennal flagellum, apical palpomere of labial palp and ovipositor. Among species of the subgenus Kaplinilis Mendes, 1990, A. nigrostriatus sp. nov. belongs to a group of species characterized by numerous short chaetae on the ventral surface of the 5–7th palpomeres of the male maxillary palp and by the absence on the labial palp. This group includes two species: A. volgensis Kaplin, 1999 from Samara Region and A. smelyanskii Kaplin, 1999 from Orenbourg Region (both Russia). The new species differs from A. volgensis and A. smelyanskii in the length of the body and antenna, color of scales on the upper surface of the body, shape of the compound eye and paired ocellus, structure of the flagellum and apical palpomere of the male labial palp. The subgenus Machilanus Silvestri, 1934 is represented only by A. bitschi Wygodzinsky, 1962 from Afghanistan and A. perfectus sp. nov., which are characterized by numerous short chaetae on the ventral surface of the 2nd–7th palpomeres of the male maxillary palp. Allopsontus perfectus sp. nov. differs from A. bitschi in the shape of compound eyes, paired ocellus, structure of male labial palp and genitalia.

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First fossil representatives of Pharaxonothinae Crowson (Coleoptera: Erotylidae): indirect evidence for cycads existence in Baltic amber forest

Zootaxa ◽

10.11646/zootaxa.4337.3.6 ◽

2017 ◽

Vol 4337 (3) ◽

pp. 413 ◽

Cited By ~ 3

Author(s):

VITALII I. ALEKSEEV ◽

ANDRIS BUKEJS

Keyword(s):

New Species ◽

Host Plants ◽

Indirect Evidence ◽

Baltic Amber ◽

A New Species ◽

Eocene Amber

A new species of Erotylidae, Cycadophila (s. str.) mumia sp. nov., the first fossil representative of the subfamily Pharaxo-nothinae, is described and illustrated from Eocene Baltic amber. A second closely related specimen is reported but not described as new due to poor preservation in amber. The occurrence of representatives of the Recent cycad-specialized genus in Baltic amber can indirectly indicate the presence of their host plants (Cycadales: Cycadophyta: Cycadopsida) in the Eocene amber forest.

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Fabrication and Characterization of Curved Compound Eyes Based on Multifocal Microlenses

Micromachines ◽

10.3390/mi11090854 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 11 (9) ◽

pp. 854 ◽

Cited By ~ 1

Author(s):

Gaoge Lian ◽

Yongshun Liu ◽

KeKai Tao ◽

Huaming Xing ◽

Ruxia Huang ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Compound Eye ◽

Accurate Method ◽

Field Of View ◽

Curved Surface ◽

Compound Eyes ◽

Wide Field ◽

Wide Field Of View ◽

Field Imaging ◽

Wide Field Imaging

Curved compound eyes have generated great interest owing to the wide field of view but the application of devices is hindered for the lack of proper detectors. One-lens curved compound eyes with multi-focal microlenses provide a solution for wide field imaging integrated in a commercial photo-detector. However, it is still a challenge for manufacturing this kind of compound eye. In this paper, a rapid and accurate method is proposed by a combination of photolithography, hot embossing, soft photolithography, and gas-assisted deformation techniques. Microlens arrays with different focal lengths were firstly obtained on a polymer, and then the planar structure was converted to the curved surface. A total of 581 compound eyes with diameters ranging from 152.8 µm to 240.9 µm were successfully obtained on one curved surface within a few hours, and the field of view of the compound eyes exceeded 108°. To verify the characteristics of the fabricated compound eyes, morphology deviation was measured by a probe profile and a scanning electron microscope. The optical performance and imaging capability were also tested and analyzed. As a result, the ommatidia made up of microlenses showed not only high accuracy in morphology, but also imaging uniformity on a focal plane. This flexible massive fabrication of compound eyes indicates great potential for miniaturized imaging systems.

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Mosquitoes (Diptera: Culicidae) in Eocene amber from the Rovno region, Ukraine

Zootaxa ◽

10.11646/zootaxa.5016.2.6 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 5016 (2) ◽

pp. 257-270

Author(s):

WOJCIECH GIŁKA ◽

RALPH E. HARBACH ◽

EVGENY E. PERKOVSKY

Keyword(s):

New Species ◽

Adult Male ◽

Male Genitalia ◽

Baltic Amber ◽

Maxillary Palpus ◽

Main Body ◽

Body Parts ◽

Eocene Amber

Culex ekaterinae sp. nov. is described based on an adult male embedded in amber from the Rovno region, northwestern Ukraine. The new species is compared with its presumed closest known relative, i.e. Culex erikae Szadziewski et Szadziewska, 1985 described from adults in Baltic amber. The two species exhibit distinct differences in the size of the main body parts, including the antenna, maxillary palpus and proboscis, as well as in the venation of the wing, the structure of the ungues and male genitalia—characters crucial in the diagnosis of adult mosquitoes. A redescription of Culiseta gedanica Szadziewski et Giłka, 2011, to date known from a single adult male, is presented based on a male in amber from Voronki, Rovno region. A tabulation of fossil Culicidae with their geological ages is provided.

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A Review of the Curculionoidea (Coleoptera) from European Eocene Ambers

Geosciences ◽

10.3390/geosciences10010016 ◽

2019 ◽

Vol 10 (1) ◽

pp. 16 ◽

Cited By ~ 8

Author(s):

Andrei A. Legalov

Keyword(s):

New Species ◽

Rovno Amber ◽

Baltic Amber ◽

New Genera ◽

New Synonyms ◽

Eocene Amber

All 142 known species of Curculionoidea in Eocene amber are documented, including one species of Nemonychidae, 16 species of Anthribidae, six species of Belidae, 10 species of Rhynchitidae, 13 species of Brentidae, 70 species of Curcuionidae, two species of Platypodidae, and 24 species of Scolytidae. Oise amber has eight species, Baltic amber has 118 species, and Rovno amber has 16 species. Nine new genera and 18 new species are described from Baltic amber. Four new synonyms are noted: Palaeometrioxena Legalov, 2012, syn. nov. is synonymous with Archimetrioxena Voss, 1953; Paleopissodes weigangae Ulke, 1947, syn. nov. is synonymous with Electrotribus theryi Hustache, 1942; Electrotribus erectosquamata Rheinheimer, 2007, syn. nov. is synonymous with Succinostyphlus mroczkowskii Kuska, 1996; Protonaupactus Zherikhin, 1971, syn. nov. is synonymous with Paonaupactus Voss, 1953. Keys for Eocene amber Curculionoidea are given. There are the first records of Aedemonini and Camarotini, and genera Limalophus and Cenocephalus in Baltic amber.

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Unexpected diversity of whitefly predators in Eocene Baltic amber—new fossil Serangium species (Coleoptera: Coccinellidae)

Zootaxa ◽

10.11646/zootaxa.4571.2.7 ◽

2019 ◽

Vol 4571 (2) ◽

pp. 270 ◽

Cited By ~ 1

Author(s):

KAROL SZAWARYN

Keyword(s):

New Species ◽

Baltic Amber ◽

Fossil Species ◽

Morphological Group ◽

The Third ◽

Ladybird Beetles ◽

Eocene Amber

Serangium is a tropical genus of minute ladybird beetles, which has been recently discovered in Baltic amber. Discovery of the third species, S. kalandyki sp. nov., demonstrates the surprising diversity of this group in the palaeoenvironment of Eocene ‘amber forests’. The new species, together with two previously described, form a well defined morphological group which suggests they all belong to a single lineage. An updated key to the fossil species of Serangium is presented. The diversity of the genus and its ecological affinities are discussed.

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