A new genus of Early Jurassic earwigs from England (Dermaptera)

A new genus of archidermapteran earwigs is described for Brevicula teres Tihelka (Dermapteridae) from Sinemurian deposits of the Black Ven Mudstone Member, Charmouth Mudstone Formation, Dorset, United Kingdom. Dacryoderma Engel, new genus, is distinct from Brevicula Whalley in the broadly rounded anterior tegminal border lacking a submedial hump and overall teardrop shape, with the anterior margin tapering gradually in a comparatively straight line to the more acutely rounded apex. The following new combination is established: Dacryoderma teres (Tihelka).

First North American species of the European genus Archaemegaptilus from the Upper Carboniferous Pottsville Formation of northern Alabama (Palaeodictyoptera: Archaemegaptilidae)

A new palaeodictyopteran (Palaeodictyopterida: Palaeodictyoptera) taxon is described based on a nearly complete hind wing found in the Pottsville Formation (Upper Carboniferous) of Bibb County, Alabama. Archaemegaptilus blakelyi Beckemeyer & Engel, new species, is the sixth insect genus and species described from the Pottsville of Alabama and the second palaeodictyopteran from those deposits. It is the third valid species assigned to the family Archaemegaptilidae. Previously known species are A. kiefferi Meunier, from the Commentry of France and A. schloesseri Brauckmann et al., from the Hagen-Vorhalle of Germany.

A replacement name for the Baltic amber ripidiine genus Olemehlia (Coleoptera: Ripiphoridae)

A replacement name is established to remove homonymy between a genus of ripidiine beetles (Ripiphoridae) in mid-Eocene Baltic amber and a group of extant longhorn beetles (Cerambycidae) from Southeast Asia. Olemehlia Holzschuh (type species: Olemehlia mystica Holzschuh) was established for a species of Disteniinae from Vietnam, while Olemehlia Batelka (type species: Olemehlia krali Batelka) was described for a species of Ripidiinae, with both names appearing within a few weeks of each other. Olemehliella Batelka, new name, is established for the ripidiine name which is junior, resulting in the new combination: Olemehliella krali (Batelka).

A replacement family-group name among fossil Neuroptera (Insecta)

The nomenclature of the enigmatic fossil family Rafaelidae is summarized and its status as a nomen invalidum requiring replacement is recognized, due to homonymy of its type genus, Rafaelia Nel et al. (nec Rafaelia Townsend). The replacement family-group name is made available as Rafaelianidae Engel & Nel, new name, based on the type genus Rafaeliana Nel et al., which is itself a former replacement for the junior Rafaelia.

A new genus and species of maimetshid wasps in Lebanese Early Cretaceous amber (Hymenoptera: Maimetshidae)

An interesting new maimetshid wasp is described and figured from the Early Cretaceous of Lebanon. Zorophratra corynetes Engel, new genus and species, differs in several important features from all other Maimetshidae and is classified within its own subfamily, Zorophratrinae Engel, new subfamily. A revised key to the genera of the family is provided, and attempts to incorporate all of those taxa known only as compression fossils. The genera of the family are organized into a revised classification, with the tribe Ahiromaimetshini Engel, new tribe, newly recognized within Maimetshinae, and the genus Turgonaliscus Engel, new genus, described for Turgonalus cooperi Rasnitsyn & Jarzembowski (resulting in Turgonaliscus cooperi, new combination).

Two new genera of Cretaceous dustywings in amber from northern Myanmar (Neuroptera: Coniopterygidae)

Two new genera and species are added to the fauna of dustywings (Coniopterygidae) preserved in Upper Cretaceous (earliest Cenomanian) amber of northern Myanmar, doubling the described diversity from this deposit. One genus is of the subfamily Aleuropteryginae and described as Achlyoconis heptatrichia Engel, new genus and species. This species is noteworthy for the infumate and patterned wings and unique presence of seven prominent setae positioned on thickenings occurring along the length of the forewing media. Paranimboa litotes Engel, new genus and species, is representative of the subfamily Coniopteryginae and distinctive among Mesozoic groups for the unbranched Rs, among other traits. In addition, a peculiar larva preserved alongside the holotype of P. litotes is described. While having a prothoracic and head form similar to aleuropterygines as well as a labial palpus with only two palpomeres, diagnostic for Coniopterygidae, the antenna bears four articles rather than the two present in crown-group dustywings. A revised key to the genera of Cretaceous Coniopterygidae is provided.

A new species of the booklouse genus Embidopsocus in Baltic amber (Psocoptera: Liposcelididae)

The first representative of the booklouse genus Embidopsocus Hagen (Nanopsocetae: Liposcelididae) is documented from the blaue Erde of northern Europe. Embidopsocus pankowskiorum Engel, new species, is similar to the related E. saxonicus Günther from the Bitterfeld deposits (so-called ‘Saxonian amber’) and E. eocenicus Nel et al. from Oise amber, but differs in details of antennal structure, setation, wing venation, and size. The species is described and comments made regarding its character affinities to other fossil liposcelidids.

Notes on Cretaceous amber Braconidae (Hymenoptera), with descriptions of two new genera

A new genus and species of basal cyclostome Braconidae is described and figured from a male preserved in mid-Cretaceous amber from northern Myanmar. <strong><em>Rhetinorhyssalus morticinus</em></strong> Engel, new genus and species, is interesting for its combination of primitive features such as a minute apical costal cell and anal stubs in the forewing, while lacking 2Cu in the hind wing, a putatively derived trait. As such, the genus may represent a lineage diverging from the braconid stem subsequent to many protorhyssalines, while remaining basal relative to generalized cyclostome groups such as Rhyssalinae. In addition, the Late Cretaceous <em>Diospilus allani</em> Brues, in Campanian Canadian amber, is transferred to <strong><em>Diorhyssalus</em></strong> Engel, new genus, and its similarity to <em>Rhetinorhyssalus</em> is discussed. This transfer results in the new combination, <em>Diorhyssalus allani</em> (Brues). Both genera are tentatively considered as subfamily <em>incertae sedis</em>.

A replacement name for the Cretaceous termite genus Gigantotermes (Isoptera)

A replacement name is proposed in order to remove a case of secondary homonymy between the Cretaceous termite genus <em>Gigantotermes</em> Engel, Barden, &amp; Grimaldi (Isoptera) and the Jurassic lacewing, <em>Gigantotermes</em> Haase (Neuroptera). <strong><em>Ginormotermes</em></strong> Engel, Barden, &amp; Grimaldi, new name, is established in place of the former, resulting in the new combination: <em>Ginormotermesrex</em> (Engel, Barden, &amp; Grimaldi).

A new family of primitive serphitoid wasps in Lebanese amber (Hymenoptera: Serphitoidea)

A new family of serphitoid wasps (Bipetiolarida: Serphitoidea) is described and figured as <strong>Archaeoserphitidae</strong> Engel, new family. The family is based on <em><strong>Archaeoserphites melqarti</strong></em> Engel, new genus and species, preserved in Early Cretaceous amber from Lebanon, and shares with Serphitidae a two-segmented, tubular petiole. <em>Archaeoserphites</em> have several primitive features relative to Serphitidae (<em>e.g</em>., reduced pterostigma, similar to many chalcidoids; a greater number of flagellomeres; a distinct malar sulcus), while simultaneously exhibiting its own derived features (<em>e.g</em>., angulate lower face, with clypeus downward; smaller mandibles; large pronotum; fused propleura). Diagnoses of and keys to the higher taxa of Bipetiolarida are provided, and the subfamily <strong>Microserphitinae</strong> Engel, new subfamily, is established.