A new species of Snakefly from the Middle Jurassic of Inner Mongolia.

Snakeflies (Raphidioptera) are a group of carnivorous flying insects related to the Lacewings, Antlions and Alderflies. They have long life cycles, with a number of larval stages, but still feed as adults. Modern Snakeflies are found throughout Europe and Temperate Asia, and in North America west of the Rockies, but they are more widespread in the fossil record, which dates back to the Early Jurassic. In the Early Cretaceous they have previously been described from three localities in East Asia and one in Brazil. 

In a paper published in the journal BMC Evolutionary Biology on 18 April 2014, Xingyue Liu of the Department of Entomology at China Agricultural University, Dong Ren of the College of Life Sciences at Capital Normal University and Ding Yang also of the Department of Entomology at China Agricultural University, describe a new species of Snakefly from the Middle Jurassic Jiulongshan Formation of Inner Mongolia.

The new species is named Juroraphidia longicollum, where 'Juroraphidia' means 'Jurassic Snakefly' and 'longicollum' means 'long-neck'. The species is described from two specimens, both preserved as part and counterpart, from the Daohugou fossil locality of Ningcheng County in Inner Mongolia. Both specimens are slightly under 10 mm in length, with an extremely elongate prothorax (the front part of the thorax, resembling a neck). 

Juroraphidia longicollum, first specimen. (A) Photograph; (B) drawing; (C) detail of head; (D) detail of prothorax; (E) detail of tarsi; (F) proximal half of wings; (G) pterostigmatic areas of wings. Abbreviations: t1-5, 1st-5th tarsomere; Sc (f) and Sc (h), forewing and hindwing subcosta; pt (f) and pt (h), forewing and hindwing pterostigma; Rs +MA (f), forewing Rs + MA; MA (f), forewing media anterior; MP (f), forewing media posterior; CuA (f), forewing cubital anterior; CuP (f), forewing cubital posterior. Scale bars represent 1.0 mm in (A) and (B); 0.2 mm in all other panels. Liu et al. (2014).

Juroraphidia longicollum is considered sufficiently different to any other known Snakefly that it is placed in its own family, the Juroraphidiidae. The early history of Snakeflies as a group is poorly understood. The group have an abundant fossil record in the Cretaceous, when they appear to have been considerably more diverse than currently the case, but have only a sparse Jurassic record, with no earlier fossils.   

Traditionally the Raphidioptera is thought to have been more closely related to the Megaloptera (Alderflies, Dobsonflies and Fishflies) than to the Neuroptera (Lacewings, Mantidflies, Antlions, and their relatives), but recent molecular studies have suggested that the Megaloptera and Neuroptera are more closely related to one-another than either group is to the Raphidioptera. Fossil evidence suggests that the Megaloptera and Neuroptera  diverged by the end of the Permian, implying that the Raphidioptera must have also diverged from the ancestor of this group by this time, but have no fossil record prior to the Jurassic. Liu et al. suggest that the Early Jurassic was probably a key period in the diversification of Snakeflies.

Juroraphidia longicollum, second specimen. (A) Photograph; (B) 0drawing; (C) detail of head and prothorax; (D) proximal half of forewing; (E) distal half of forewing; (F) distal half of hindwing. Scale bars represent 1.0 mm in (A) and (B) 0.2 mm in all other panels. Liu et al. (2014).

See also...

 A new species of Split-foot Lacewing from the Middle Jurassic of Inner Mongolia.

 Two new species of Dustywing from Tertiary amber.

 Snakeflies in amber from the Early Cretaceous of northern Spain.

Follow Sciency Thoughts on Facebook.

Two new species of Helorid Wasps from the Middle Jurasic Jiulongshan Formation of Inner Mongolia.

Helorid Wasps are small, black, parasiotoid Wasps, with larvae that develop inside the bodies of the young of Green Lacewings. The group has a long fossil record, with the earliest known specimens being found in the Middle Jurasic Jiulongshan Formation of Inner Mongolia, but only about twelve modern species, found scattered across the globe.

In a paper published in the journal ZooKeys on 13 January 2014, Xiaoqing Shi, Yunyun Zhao, Chungkun Shih and Dong Ren, all of the College of Life Science at Capital Normal University in Beijing describe two new species of Helorid Wasps from the Jiulongshan Formation near Daohugou Village in Inner |Mongolia. Both of these new species are placed in the genus Archaeohelorus, which has previously been described from these deposits.

The Daohugou Beds of the Jiulongshan Formation are a fossil Lagarstätte from Ningcheng County in Inner Mongolia, which have produced a large number of well preserved Middle Jurassic Vertebrates, Insects, Plants and other fossils. The fauna has been considered to be part of the Jehol Biota, but is now generally considered to be slightly earlier. The deposits formed in lake surrounded by a moist, warm-temperate forest, dominated by Conifers, Ginkos and Cycads

The first new species is named Archaeohelorus polyneurus, meaning 'many veins', a reference to the veination of the hind wing. Archaeohelorus polyneurus is a 6.5 mm Wasp described from a two almost complete specimens.

 

Two specimens of Archaeohelorus polyneurus from the Jiulongshan Formation. Shi et al. (2014).

The second new secies is named Archaeohelorus tensus, meaning 'stretched', or 'long', a reference to the shape of the forewing. The species is described from a single, 4.4 mm male speciemen preserved as part and counterpart.

Archaeohelorus tensus, part (top) and counterpart (bottom), with detail of the terminal segments of the counterpart inset. Shi et al. (2014).

See also Fourteen new species of Moth from the Middle Jurassic Jiulongshan Formation of Inner Mongolia,  Leaf mimicry in a Jurassic Scorpionfly, A new species of Split-foot Lacewing from the Middle Jurassic of Inner Mongolia, A Caddisfly from the Middle Jurassic of Inner Mongolia and Choristopsychid Insects from the Middle Jurassic of Inner Mongolia.

Follow Sciency Thoughts on Facebook.

Fourteen new species of Moth from the Middle Jurassic Jiulongshan Formation of Inner Mongolia.

The Lepidoptera (Butterflies and Moths) first appear in the fossil record in the Early Jurassic of southern England, though they may be a little older; their closest relatives, the Caddisflies (Trichoptera) being known from the Late Triassic. Fossil Lepidopterans are not numerous in Mesozoic deposits, suggesting that the group did not become a major component of Insect faunas until the Cenozoic.

In a paper published in the journal PLoS One on 22 November 2013, a team of scientists led by Weiting Zhang of the College of Life Sciences at Capital Normal University in Beijing and the Geoscience Museum of the Shijiazhuang University of Economics describe fourteen new species of Moths from the Middle Jurassic Jiulongshan Formation from Daohugou Village in Inner Mongolia.

The first new species described is named Seresilepidopteron dualis, where 'Seresilepidopteron' means 'Lepidopteran from northwest China' and 'dualis' means 'twice'. This is a 4.3 mm Moth described from two specimens, thought to be members of the same species but different sexes. 

Seresilepidopteron dualis, female specimen. Zhang et al. (2013).

The second new species is named Akainalepidopteron elachipteron, where 'Akainalepidopteron' means  'spiny Lepidopteran' and 'elachipteron' means 'short wing'. The species is described from two female specimens and a partial specimen of uncertain sex. The Moths were about 7.2 mm in length, with forewings shorter than the body.

Akainalepidopteron elachipteron, female specimen. Zhang et al. (2013).

The third new species described is named Dynamilepidopteron aspinosus, where 'Dynamilepidopteron' means 'Powerful Lepidopteran' and 'aspinosus' means 'lacking spines'. The species is described from a single male specimen, 7 mm in length.

Dynamilepidopteron aspinosus, male specimen. Zhang et al. (2013).

The fourth new species described is named Quadruplecivena celsa, where 'Quadruplecivena' means 'quadruple-veined' and 'celsa' means 'noble'. The species is described from a single male specimen, 9.5 mm in length.

Quadruplecivena celsa, male specimen. Zhang et al. (2013).

The fifth new species described is named Petilicorpus cristatus, where 'Petilicorpus' means 'thin bodied' and 'cristatus' means 'crested'. The species is described from a single female specimen, 6.6 mm in length.

Petilicorpus cristatus, female specimen. Zhang et al. (2013).

The sixth new species described is named Longcapitalis excelsus, where 'Longcapitalis' means 'long headed' and 'excelsus' means 'large'. The species is described from a single female specimen, preserved as part and counterpart, 7.9 mm in length.

Longcapitalis excelsus, female specimen. Zhang et al. (2013).

The seventh new species described is named Grammikolepidopteron extensus, where 'Grammikolepidopteron' means 'linear Lepidopterean' and 'extensus' means 'extended'. The species is described from a single female specimen preserved as part and counterpart, 3.8 mm in length, but missing the tip of the abdomen.

Grammikolepidopteron extensus, female specimen. Zhang et al. (2013).

The eighth new species described is placed in the genus Mesokristensenia, and given the specific name trichophora, meaning hair-carrier, a reference to a cluster of hairs on the base of the antennae. Mesokristensenia trichophora is described from a single female specimen, 5.1 mm in length.

Mesokristensenia trichophora, female specimen, with detail of the head inset, arrows pointing to the clusters of hairs at the base of the antennae. Zhang et al. (2013).

The ninth new species described is named Kladolepidopteron oviformis, where 'Kladolepidopteron' means 'branched Lepidopteran' (a reference to the wing-venation) and 'oviformis' means 'egg-shaped' in reference to a pair of oval structures on the first segment of the thorax. The species is described from a single female specimen, 6.3 mm in length.

Kladolepidopteron oviformis, female specimen. Zhang et al. (2013).

The tenth new species described is also placed in the genus Kladolepidoteron, and is given the specific name subaequalis, meaning 'less than equal', a reference to the wing venation. Kladolepidopteron subaequalis is described from a 5 mm specimen of indeterminate sex and an isolated forewing.

Kladolepidopteron subaequalis, specimen of indeterminate sex. Zhang et al. (2013).

The eleventh new species described is again placed in the genus Kladolepidoteron, and is given the specific name parva, meaning small. Kladolepidopteron parva is described from a single male specimen, 4.1 mm in length, preserved as part and counterpart.

Kladolepidopteron parva, male specimen, part and counterpart. Zhang et al. (2013).

The twelfth new species described is given the name Ascololepidopterix multinerve, where 'Ascololepidopterix' means 'Lepidopteran without spurs' and 'multinerve' means 'many-sinewed', a reference to the wing venation. The species is described from a single 8.1 mm specimen of indeterminate sex.

Ascololepidopterix multinerve, specimen of indeterminate sex. Zhang et al. (2013).

The thirteenth new species described is given the name Pegolepidopteron latiala, where 'Pegolepidopteron' means 'large Lepidopteran' and 'latiala' means 'broad winged'. The species is described from a single 7.7 mm female specimen.

Pegolepidopteron latiala, female specimen. Zhang et al. (2013).

The final new species is named Trionolepidopteron admarginis, where 'Trionolepidopteron' means 'Three Lepidopteran', a reference to the wing venation, and 'admarginis' means 'towards the border', another reference to the wing venation. The species is described from a single 3.8 mm partial specimen of indeterminate sex.

Trionolepidopteron admarginis, specimen of indeterminate sex. Zhang et al. (2013).

See also Leaf mimicry in a Jurassic Scorpionfly, A new species of Split-foot Lacewing from the Middle Jurassic of Inner Mongolia, A Caddisfly from the Middle Jurassic of Inner Mongolia, Choristopsychid Insects from the Middle Jurassic of Inner Mongolia and Four new species of Mantidfly from the Mesozoic of China.

Follow Sciency Thoughts on Facebook.

A new species of Split-foot Lacewing from the Middle Jurassic of Inner Mongolia.

The Split-foot Lacewings (Nymphidae) are the oldest group of Neuropteran Insects (Lacewings and their allies), with a fossil record dating back to the Jurassic. They are considered to be more closely related to the Antlions and Owlflies than to other Lacewings. Like other Neuropterans they have two pairs of well developed wings with many veinlets, giving them a net- or lace-like appearance, and undergo complete metamorphosis, with a larvae that lacks wings and bears little resemblance to the adult.

In a paper published in the journal ZooKeys on 20 August 2013, Vladimir Makarkin of the College of Life Sciences at Capital Normal University in Beijing and the Institute of Biology and Soil Sciences at the Far Eastern Branch of the Russian Academy of Sciences and Qiang Yang, Chaofan Shi and Dong Ren, all also of the College of Life Sciences at Capital Normal University, describe a new species of Split-foot Lacewings from the Middle Jurassic Jiulongshan Formation of Daohugou Village in Inner Mongolia. The species is described as part of a wider study into the use of wing veinlets in Neuropteran classification.

The new species is named Daonymphes bisulca, where 'Daonymphes' means the nymph from Daohugou and 'bisulca' means forked or split in two, a reference to the structure of the wing vienlets. Daonymphes bisulca is described from a single forewing (not unusual in Insects, where taxonomy is often based entirely on wing-structure) 29 mm in length.

The wing of Daonymphes bisulca. Photograph (top) and line drawing (bottom). Abreviations: AA, analis anterior; AP, analis posterior; Cu, cubitus; CuA, cubitus anterior; CuP, cubitus posterior; M, media; MA, media anterior; MP, media posterior; R, radius; RA, radius anterior; RP, radius posterior; RP1, proximalmost branch of RP; rv, recurrent veinlet; ScP, subcosta posterior. Scale bars are 10 mm. Makarin et al. (2013).

See also Two new species of Dustywing from Tertiary amber, Four new species of Mantidfly from the Mesozoic of China, A new species of Green Lacewing discovered on Flikr®, A new species of Antlion from China and New species of Owlfly from Morocco.

Follow Sciency Thoughts on Facebook.

A Caddisfly from the Middle Jurassic of Inner Mongolia.

Caddisflies (Trichoptera) are a widespread and numerous (over 12 000 described species) group of Insects closely related to the Lepidoptera (Butterflies and Moths). Like Butterflies and Moths, Caddisflies undergo a complete metamorphosis upon reaching maturity, with a long-lived caterpillar-like larvae, and a shorter-lived flying adult stages (which typically lives one-to-two weeks). However, unlike the larvae of Butterflies and Moths, Caddisfly larvae are entirely aquatic, with only the winged adults emerging above the water surface. Most larval Caddisfly inhabit cases which they make out of silk, which some species are noted for covering with small stones, pieces of plant matter, shells or other matter they find in their environment. The larvae may be herbivorous or carnivorous, adult Caddisfly generally do not eat at all. They have a fossil record dating back to the Triassic.

In a paper published in the journal Fossil Record on 20 February 2013, Yan Gao, Yunzhi Yao and Dong Ren of the Key Lab of Insect Evolution and Environmental Changes at Capital Normal University in Beijing, describe a new species of Caddisfly from the Middle Jurassic Jiulongshan Formation at Daohugou Village in Inner Mongolia.

The new species is named Pulchercylindratus punctatus, where 'Pulchercylindratus' means 'beautiful cylinder' and 'punctatus' means spotted. The species is described from three specimens, a complete male and two partial fossils of indeterminate sex. The complete specimen is 10.47 mm in length.

Pulchercylindratus punctatus, photograph (top) and line drawing (bottom). Gao et al. (2013).

See also Choristopsychid Insects from the Middle Jurassic of Inner Mongolia, Four new species of Mantidfly from the Mesozoic of China, New Ommatid Beetles from the Mesozoic of China and Fishflies from the Middle Jurassic of Inner Mongolia.

Follow Sciency Thoughts on Facebook.

Choristopsychid Insects from the Middle Jurassic of Inner Mongolia.

The Insect Family Choristopsychidae was erected in 1937 by the Russian Palaeoentomologist Arkadiy Martynov to describe an isolated forewing from Tajikistan with distinct venation (this is not that surprising, insect wings are extremely distinctive, and palaeoentomologists are often able to make detailed predictions about the taxonomy of specimens simply from the wings). He placed it within the order Mecoptera, which includes the modern Scorpionflies, Hangingflies and Earwigflies. It has since been suggested that the specimen should be placed within the Agetoparnopidae or Permochoristidae two other groups of fossil Mecopterans.

In a paper published in the journal ZooKeys on 29 July 2013, Xiao Qiao and Chung Kun Shih of the Key Laboratory of Insect Evolution & Environmental Change at the College of Life Sciences at  Capital Normal University in Beijing, Julian Petrulevičius of the División Paleozoología Invertebrados at the Museo de La Plata in Argentina and Ren Dong, also of the Key Laboratory of Insect Evolution & Environmental Change, describe a series of new specimens of Choristopsychid Insects from the Middle Jurassic Jiulongshan Formation of Daohugou Village in Inner Mongolia, which show the full anatomy of the Insects, and suggest that Martynov was correct to place them in a unique family of their own.

Qiao et al. describe ten body specimens of the species described by Martynov in 1937, Choristopsyche tenuinervis. The these are eleven mm insect preserved as part and counterpart on a limestone slabs. Both sexes are present, and the males show reproductive equipment similar to that of Scorpionflies.

Photographs and line drawings of Choristopsyche tenuinervis, gender unknown. (A) Photograph of part. (B) Photograph of counterpart. (C) Line drawing of whole specimen of part. (D) Line drawing of whole specimen of counterpart. Scale bars represent 5 mm. Qiao et al. (2013).

Further specimens of Choristopsyche tenuinervis. (A & C) Gender unknown. (B, D, E & F) Females. Qiao et al. (2013).

In addition Qiao et al. describe two new species in the genus Choristopsyche.

The first of these is Choristopsyche perfecta, which derives from 'perfectus' the Latin for complete, a reference to the fact that this species is described from body fossils, not an isolated wing. The species is described from four nearly complete specimens of both sexes, averaging 20 mm in length.

Specimens of Choristopsyche perfecta. (A) Male(?), (B) line drawing of (A), (C) sex unknown, (D) female, (E) line drawing of (C) and (F) sex unknown.  Qiao et al. (2013).

The second new species of Choritopsyche is given the specific name asticta, meaning 'no spots', unlike other members of the genus this species lacks spots on its wings. This species is named from three female specimens about 20 mm in length.

Choritopsyche asticta, (A& B) part and counterpart of first specimen, (C & D) line drawings of (A & B), (E & F) second and third specimens. Qiao et al. (2013).

Finally a fourth species is placed in a second genus. This is named Paristopsyche angelineae, where 'Paristopsyche' means 'equal soul' or 'equal mind' and 'angelineae' honours Ms. Janet Angeline. The species is described from six specimens, averaging 10 mm in length.

Paristopsyche angelineae, two specimens with line drawings. Qiao et al. (2013).

See also Four new species of Mantidfly from the Mesozoic of China, A new species of Scorpionfly from Baltic Amber, New Ommatid Beetles from the Mesozoic of China, Fishflies from the Middle Jurassic of Inner Mongolia and What Jurassic Katydids did.

Follow Sciency Thoughts on Facebook.

Fishflies from the Middle Jurassic of Inner Mongolia.

Fishflies (Chauliodinae) are large flying insects, closely related to Dobsonflies. Their larval stages are aquatic, with the adults emerging as flying insects. Unlike some insects with a similar life-cycle, Fishflies do eat as adults, consuming a variety of animal prey, including small vertebrates (notably fish), as well as some plant matter. They lack the obvious jaws of the Dobsonflies, and males have Moth-like feathery antennae. They are found in many parts of the globe, but few areas have many species and (particularly in the Southern Hemisphere) widely separated species often seem closely related. For this reason they are sometimes considered living fossils since the existing species have apparently changed little since the breakup of the Gondwanan supercontinent. The actual fossil record of the group is not good, with the oldest known specimens coming from the Middle Jurassic. Estimates for the origin of the group vary from the Early Permian to the Early Jurassic.

In a paper published in the journal PLoS One on 6 July 2012, a team of scientists led by Xingyue Liu of the Department of Entomology at the China Agricultural University in Beijing, describe a new species of Fishfly from the Middle Jurassic of Inner Mongolia, plus some additional material of a previously described species.

The new species is named Eochauliodes striolatus, where Eo- means dawn or beginning, -chauliodes means possessing prominent teeth (a common component of the names of Fishflies) and striolatus means having narrow stripes, a reference to the patterning on the wings. It comes from the Bathonian-Callovian (i.e. roughly 164.7 million years old) Jiulongshan Formation near Daohugou Village in Ningcheng County, Inner Mongolia. Both adult and larval forms are described.

Eochauliodes striolatus. (A–G) Adult.  (A) Habitus. (B) Habitus illustration. (C) Head,

showing ocellar triangle. (D) Antenna. (E) Apex of mid leg, showing tibial spur and hairs. (F) Genitalia. (G) Venation of forewing and hindwing (H–K) Larva. (H) Habitus. (I) Head. (J) Abdominal apex, showing prolegs (K) Abdominal apex, showing enlarged spiracles on tergite 8.

Abbreviations: C: costa, Sc: subcosta, R: radius, Rs: radial sector, MA: anterior media, MP: posterior media, CuA: anterior cubitus, CuP: posterior cubitus, A: anal vein, J: jugal vein. Lui et al. (2012).

In addition Lui et al. describe several adult specimens of Jurochauliodes ponomarenkoi from the Jiulongshan Formation, previously only known from larvae. 

Jurochauliodes ponomarenkoi. (A–D) Adult. (A) Habitus. (B) Habitus illustration. (C)

Fore and mid legs, showing tibial spur and hairs. (D) Venation of forewing and hindwing. (E–G) Larva. (E) Habitus. (F) Head. (G). Abdominal apex, showing enlarged spiracles on tergite 8. Lui et al. (2012).

This means that both adult and larval stages for two species of Fishfly have been described from the Jiulongshan Formation near Daohugou Village, though the criteria for matching the larval forms to the adults is unclear.

See also A new species of Antlion from China, Snakeflies in amber from the Early Cretaceous of northern Spain and New species of Owlfly from Morocco.

Follow Sciency Thoughts on Facebook.