First record of tiger beetles (Coleoptera, Cicindelidae) from Rovno amber, with the description of a new genus and species

A new fossil tiger beetle species, Goriresina fungifora gen. n., sp. n. (Coleoptera, Cicindelidae), is described from Eocene Rovno amber. The new genus belongs to the subtribe Iresiina, tribe Cicindelini, due to the glabrous head, the labrum with six submarginal setae (latero-basal setae very long) and two apical teeth with notch between them, the glabrous and globular pronotum, the lack of setae on the metepisternum and metepimeron, as well as on the visible parts of abdominal sternites, the single long seta each on the fore- and mesotrochanter. The new species is characterized by the long and moderately convex labrum, two clypeal setae, the elongate and apicad converging elytra with an angularly, but smoothly rounded apex, the small and sharp sutural spine, the probable presence of an apical portion of the elytral humeral spot, a slightly sinuate, transverse medial fascia with an extended and downward directed apical portion, and a slightly transverse basal portion of the apical spot. This is the first record of a tiger beetle in Rovno amber and only a fourth well-preserved Cicindelidae from fossil resins.

Eucalyptus Bark as Source of Bio-oil or Phenolic Compounds

Background: Eucalyptus bark and scraps are generated in the production of medium density fiberboard (MDF). An approach aiming to add value to such wastes was studied, following the concepts of circular economy and biomass cascade strategy. Bio-oil and phenolic resin were produced by pyrolysis from two types of biomass, Eucalyptus bark and MDF waste. As is well known, conventional phenolic resins are normally obtained from fossil resources. These products were obtained from the pyrolysis of two types of biomass to reduce environmental waste and dependence on petroleum-based products. Objective: The main objective of the present study was to produce phenolic resin from Eucalyptus wastes, aiming to reduce the fossil dependence on conventional resins used in the production line of MDF. Materials and Methods: Fast pyrolysis and slow pyrolysis were employed for bio-oil and phenolic resin production. The bio-oil and resins were characterized with standard lab analyses for their physicochemical properties, while their thermal properties were studied via thermogravimetric analysis (TGA). Results: The shear strength of the lap internal bonding of the phenolic resin binders with 19.8% of bio-oil were 2.09, 1.34, and 1.63 MPa under dry, boiler, and soaked conditions, respectively, which were acceptable for panel fabrication, which can represent a significant saving in terms of fossil resins and cost reduction. Discussion: By the results, 1 g medium fraction of bio-oils was equivalent to 1.35 g of conventional phenols, indicating those bio-oils as phenolic structures that could be used as binders. The bio-oil yields for bark and MDF were 40.9 and 25.1, respectively, which indicate a potential for replacing the conventional fossil-based phenolic resin. Conclusion: The results revealed the possibility of replacing conventional fossil-based chemicals with phenolic resin from renewable resources with similar overall properties, replacing about 1/3 of the conventional resin.

Map of fossil resins of Ukraine

Finding out the conditions of the geological past under which tar secretions were fossilised and primary bio-sedimentary deposits of protoamber were accumulated and amber-succinite placers formed in the marine environment is an important link in scientific research. Insufficient study of amber-succinite as an organic formation, which has gone through a difficult path of transition from wildlife to minerals, leads to irrational use and search for such valuable raw materials and its extraction is much less beneficial than planned. The authors have carried out a comprehensive systematization of accumulated knowledge on amber-succinite and other mineral types of mineral resins in Ukraine and the entire Baltic-Dnipro amber province. The article discusses the creation of a new map of mineral fossil resins in Ukraine. In addition to the known amber-bearing zones, deposits and occurrences of amber, the map carriespaleogeological and predicted loads, is closely related to the formation of both secondary placers of amber-succinite and primary biogenic-sedimentary deposits – resin bodies, transitional composition in the first half of the Middle Eocene (Buchakian time). In order to develop a reasonable forecast of the deposits, the authors identified the root source of amber-succinite placers, which is represented by biogenic-sedimentary deposits of resin bodies. These deposits were formed in the Lower Middle Eocene during the Buchakian time on land of the Ukrainian Shield, most often within swampy accumulative depressions associated with ancient faults and structural tectonic traps. The conditions of the geological past, under which tar secretions were fossilized and primary biogenic-sedimentary deposits of the protoamber were accumulated, as well as the formation of amber-succinite placers, the first intermediate collectors in the coastal-marine, liman delta and deep-water parts of the paleoshelf, have been clarified. The work carried out by the authors resulted in predicted conclusions about the possibility of finding new areas promising for the discovery of industrial deposits of the most valuable type of fossil resins – amber succinite.

New psychodid flies from the Upper Cretaceous Yantardakh amber and Eocene Sakhalin amber (Diptera: Psychodidae: Psychodinae)

Four new psychodid flies, Yantarpsychodus szadziewskii gen. et sp. nov., Sakhalinopsychoda krzeminskii gen. et sp. nov., Sakhalinopericoma russiaensis gen. et sp. nov., and Tonnoira sakhalinensis sp. nov. are characterised, illustrated and described from the Late Cretaceous Santonian Yantardakh amber and the Paleogene mid-Eocene Sakhalin amber. These newly described taxa are the first studied representatives of the Psychodidae from Yantardakh and Sakhalin fossil resins.

A new species of Bruchomyiinae (Diptera: Psychodidae) from Baltic amber

Bruchomyiinae is one of seven subfamilies of Psychodidae. This small group comprises fewer than 60 extant species distributed mainly in tropical and sub-tropical regions (Wagner & Stuckenberg 2016). All life stages of these flies are closely tied to forest environment (Fairchild 1952; Stuckenberg 1962) and as a result, bruchomyiines are frequently preserved in fossil resins. The first fossil member of this subfamily was described from Baltic amber (45 Ma) (Meunier 1905) and Burmese amber (100 Ma) is the oldest fossil resin in which representatives of Bruchomyiinae have been found (Stebner et al. 2015; Wagner 2017; Skibińska et al. 2019). Due to the relative scarcity of this subfamily in Baltic amber, any new specimens are of great interest. Up till now, there are only 12 bruchomyiine species described from Baltic amber. Wagner (2017) completed a revision of fossil Bruchomyiinae and proposed the genus Hoffeinsodes to include the species having male genitalia with gonocoxites fused with hypandrium. In this genus, he classified six species reported exclusively from Eocene Baltic amber: H. bifida Wagner, 2017, H. cubicula Wagner, 2017, H. longicauda Wagner, 2017, H. obtusa Wagner, 2017, H. reducta Wagner, 2017 and H. hoffeinsi (Wagner, 2006) transferred from Nemopalpus (Wagner, 2006). Here, we describe a new species belonging to this genus.

A Study on the Formation Environment of the La Cumbre Amber Deposit, from Santiago Province, the Northwestern Part of the Dominican Republic

The amber-bearing coaly shale from the La Cumbre deposit (Cordillera Septentrional, Dominican Republic) contains a large quantity of altered, coalified plant detritus. The coals in these shales are in the transition stage from meta-lignite to subbituminous coals. They are composed mainly of inertinite macerals such as fusinite, semifusinite, macrinite and secretinite. Fossil resin found in the deposit occurs in two forms: detrital grains up to several centimetres in size (type I) and very fine authigenic grains, of a few micrometers in size, inside the humic laminae (type II, resinite). The detrital fossil resins are transparent, with few mineral and organic inclusions. In their composition they contain sulfides, which may come from sulfate reduction, inclusions of plants and/or insects or be caused by volcanic activity developed in surrounding coal series. The resinites are strongly saturated with various inclusions and spatially associated with framboidal pyrite aggregates. Both fossil resin types were probably deposited in a shallow coastal lake environment in the zone bordering the floodplain of the river, with periodic floods. The marine environment conditions, which were progressively changing from oxidizing to reducing, are likely associated with the formation of the fossil resin.

Application of ATR-FTIR spectroscopy for the identification of chemical functional groups in kerogens and fossil resins.

<p>Organic matters, such as oil, kerogen, fossil resins have different chemical functional groups. The complexity of chemical functional groups derives from the many sources of original contributing organic matter and long-term chemical and physical changes over geologic time. Fourier transform infrared spectrometer attenuated total reflectance (FTIR-ATR) can quantify the abundance of chemical functional groups and is a sensitive, high resolution and non-destructive analytical technique. The aim of this study was to characterize the spectral behavior and chemical structure of organic matters. In order to correlate organic matters of different types with its infrared spectra. The results show that FTIR-ATR spectra of oil contain intense aliphatic C-H stretching vibration in 2960 cm<sup>-1</sup>,2925 cm<sup>-1</sup>,2850 cm<sup>-1</sup> region relative to the C–H (CH<sub>3</sub>) scissoring vibration at 1470 cm<sup>-1</sup> and C=C aromatic ring stretching vibration at 1640 cm<sup>-1</sup>. We apply FTIR-ATR analyses for evaluating oil potential of kerogens. The longest aliphatic chains having the least amount of branching testifying to the highest oil generating potential. The similar locality of fossil resins has a similar chemical vibration ratio of C-H stretching (2925 cm<sup>-1</sup>,2850 cm<sup>-1</sup>) and C-H scissoring (1470 cm<sup>-1</sup>). In consequence, the analysis providing a rapid means of assessing organic matters and oil potential, and it can also rapidly identification the botanical origin of fossil resins.</p><p></p>

Fossil Resins–Constraints from Portable and Laboratory Near-infrared Raman Spectrometers

Comparative studies of fossil resins of various ages, botanical sources, geological environments, and provenience were provided via a handheld portable Near-Infrared (NIR)-Raman spectrometer and benchtop instrument both working with laser line 1064 nm. The recorded Raman spectra of individual fossil resins were found to be sufficiently similar irrespective to the device type applied, i.e., handheld or benchtop. Thus, the portable equipment was found to be a sufficient tool for the preliminary identification of resins based on botanical and geographical origin criteria. The observed height ratio of 1640/1440 cm−1 Raman bands did not correlate well with the ages of fossil resins. Hence, it may be assumed that geological conditions such as volcanic activity and/or hydrothermal heating are plausible factors accelerating the maturation of resins and cross-linking processes.