Natural gas emissions in Boston, Massachusetts.

Methane (CH₄) is considered to be a serious atmospheric pollutant, both for its role as a greenhouse gas and its immediate effect on the area where it is released, where it can contribute to raised ozone levels at ground level, which is harmful to human health. It is currently calculated that methane is present in the atmosphere at levels 2.5 times as high as in the pre-industrial period, and that the level of atmospheric methane, which rose steadily till the mid 1980s, then slowed and levelled off by the early 2000s, has begun to rise sharply again since 2007. Methane emissions can come from a number of sources, including landfill sites and sewage treatment works, but the majority of the released methane is thought to come from leaks in the natural gas infrastructure (i.e. gas extracted from fossil hydrocarbon sources and intended for use as a domestic or industrial fuel). However the exact contribution of different sources to atmospheric pollution is unclear (and sometimes controversial), and current levels of atmospheric methane are much higher in many areas than predicted to arise from leaks in the gas distribution network.

In a paper published in the Proceedings of the National Academy ofSciences of the United States of America on 23 January 2015, a team of scientists led by KathrynMcKain of the School of Engineering and Applied Sciences and Department ofEarth and Planetary Sciences at Harvard University discuss the results of an experiment in which they monitored methane levels in and around the city of Boston, Massachusetts, for one year (twelve calendar months) in 2012-13, in order to determine levels of the gas in the city, and attempt to determine its origin.

McKain et al. monitored gas levels at four sites, Boston University and Copley Square in the city, and Harvard Forest and Nahant outside the urban area. Both the urban sites showed raised methane levels compared to the countryside year round, with the Boston University site with the Boston University site being 37.3 parts per billion above background in summer and 58.5 parts per billion above background in winter, while the Copley Square site produced levels 23.6 parts per billion above background in summer and 39.3 parts per billion above background in winter.

Location of two city [Boston University (BU), 29-m height; CopleySquare (COP), 215-m height] and two peripheral [Harvard Forest (HF);Nahant (NHT)] measurement stations (black points) in Boston, and the surrounding area, overlaid on a map of the number of housing units with NG per square kilometer (14). The 90-km radius circle delineates the ∼18,000km² land area for which CH4 emissions and the NG loss rate were calculated.The magenta and purple contours enclose 50% of the average footprint(sensitivity area) of the BU and COP afternoon measurements, respectively.The two city sites are difficult to distinguish at this scale because the horizontaldistance between them is ∼2 km. The influence area is ∼80% largerfor COP than BU because the former station is higher. McKain et al. (2015).

In order to determine the origin of the gas, McKain et al. also monitored ethane (C₂H₆) levels at each site. Ethane forms a significant proportion of supplied natural gas, but is not produced by microbial sources such as wetlands, landfill or sewage farms. Since Boston lacks other potential sources of atmospheric ethane, such as natural geological gas seeps or hydrocarbons refineries, this is taken as a good proxy for gas emitted by the natural gas infrastructure. Based upon this McKain et al. calculate that 98% of atmospheric methane in winter and 67% of atmospheric methane in winter originates from the natural gas infrastructure (a higher percentage in winter would be expected, as humans use less fuel and microbial production is higher).

This suggests that 2.7% of all natural gas supplied to the Boston area during the study period was leaked into the atmosphere. It is currently estimated that 0.7% of all supplied natural gas in the US is lost to the atmosphere, though this figure is not broken down by regions. The State ofMassachusetts produces its own figures, and estimates that 1.1% of supplied natural gas is lost (68% of the study area lies within Massachusetts, while 88% of the supplied gas in the state is consumed within the study area).

Reconstructed geographical distribution of NG consumption, in unitsof CH₄ mass flux, during September 2012 through August 2013 for the fourstates included in the study region. McKain et al. (2015).

McKainet al.’s figures suggest that both the US national figures and the independent figures produced in Massachusetts are severe underestimates. They suggest that this is because these figures are based upon detected leeks from the system (i.e. leeks large enough to be noticed and responded to), and that numerous smaller leeks could go undetected, particularly if occurring in inaccessible places. They also note that leeks on private property are not included in the official figures, but will still contribute to atmospheric pollution.

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Asteroid 2015 BL passes the Earth.

Asteroid 2015 BL passed by the Earth at a distance of 17 350 000 km (45.38 times the average distance between the Earth and the Moon, or 11.6 % of the average distance between the Earth and the Sun), slightly before 0.10 am GMT on Tuesday 3 February 2015. There was no danger of the asteroid hitting us, though had it done so it would have presented a minor threat. 2015 BL has an estimated equivalent diameter of 36-110 m (i.e. it is estimated that a spherical object with the same volume would be 36-110 m in diameter), and an object towards the upper end of this range would be expected to be capable of passing through the atmosphere reasonably intact, impacting the ground in an explosion equivalent to about 60 megatonnes of TNT (roughly 3500 times the energy of the Hiroshima bomb) and creating a crator about 1.5 km in diameter. Such an event would cause devastation over a wide area, and could cause climatic problems for several years.

 The calculated orbit of 2015 BL. JPL Small Body Database.

2015 BD511 was discovered on 16 January 2015 (eighteen days before its closest approach to the Earth) by the University of Hawaii's PANSTARRS telescope on Mount Haleakala on Maui. The designation 2015 BL implies that it was the 11th asteroid (asteroid L) discovered in the second half of January 2015 (period 2015 B).

While 2015 BL occasionally comes near to the Earth, it does not actually cross our orbital path. It has an elliptical 826 day orbit, at an angle of 3.2° to the plane of the Solar System, that takes it from 1.05 AU from the Sun (1.05 times the average distance at which the Earth orbits the Sun), slightly outside our orbit, to 2.40 AU from the Sun, (2.40 times the distance at which the Earth orbits the Sun, and considerably more than the distance at which the planet Mars orbits the Sun). As a Near Earth Object that remains strictly outside the orbit of the Earth it is classed as an Amor Family Asteroid. 

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Asteroid 2015 BE passes the Earth.             Asteroid 2015 BE passed by the Earth at a distance of 11 890 000 km (30.91 times the average distance between the Earth and the Moon, or 7.9 % of the average distance between the Earth and the Sun), at about 8.25 am GMT on Friday 30 January 2015. There...

Asteroid 2015 BD511 passes the Earth.   Asteroid 2015 BD511 passed by the Earth at a distance of 1 714 000 km (4.47 times the average distance between the Earth and the Moon, or 1.1 % of the average distance between the Earth and the Sun), slightly before 0.50 am GMT on Friday 30 January...

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A new species of Serranine Perchlet from the Philippines.

The Philippines form a major component of the Indo-Malay-Philippine Archipelago, which is considered to be a major biodiversity hotspot, with the highest diversity among coastal marine Fishes seen anywhere in the world, and many new species described every year. As such the country regularly visited by scientific vessels from major research organisations, looking for new fish species in the waters around its many islands, atolls and reefs. However other scientists have taken to searching the numerous Philippine Fish markets, looking for undescribed species caught by local fishermen.

In a paper published in the journal Zootaxa on 19 January 2015, Jeffrey Williams of the Division of Fishes at the Department of Vertebrate Zoology at the National Museum of Natural History of the Smithsonian Institution and Kent Carpenter of the Department of Biological Sciences at Old DominionUniversity, describe a new species of Serranine Perchlet from a specimen obtained from the Public Fish Market in Iloilo City.

The new species is placed in the genus Chelidoperca, and given the specific name santosi, in honour of the Philippine researcher Mudjekeewis Santos of the Department of Agriculture, Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources and National Fisheries Research and Development Institute in Manila, for his contributions to the advancement of science in the Philippines and help with the project which discovered the new species.

The specimen was found in the mouth of a large Grouper, which the vendor reported had been imported in a consignment of Fish from Palawan. A subsequent search of specimens in the collections of major museums, universities and other research institutes found two further specimens in the collection of Museum Victoria and the National Museum of Natural History of the Smithsonian Institution.

The new species is a small Perchlet, 69-84 mm in length. It is white on its underside, with pinkish markings towards the underside. The upper side is mottled pinkish and yellowish orange, with four dark spots between the eyes and two on the lower lip. Its fins are white, with yellow markings.

Specimen of Chelidoperca santosi from the Public Fish Market in Iloilo City, shortly after being discovered. Jeffrey Williams in Williams & Carpenter (2015).

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A new species of Sweeper from the Comoro Islands.

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The new species of Anthia from the Marquesa Islands in French Polynesia.

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Four new species of Mushroom from Thailand.

Mushrooms of the genus Agaricus are well studied in temperate regions, where there are over 400 species divided into eight groups, including many commercially important medical species. The group is also found in the tropics, where it is likely to be much more diverse, although it is poorly studied here. Many tropical Agaricus Mushrooms are known not to fit into the traditional eight divisions, suggesting that fitting these Fungi into the group’s taxonomy will require considerable revision of the genus.

In a paper published in the journal Phytotaxa on 14 January 2015, a team of mycologists led by Jie Chen of the State key laboratory of Mycology at the Institute of Microbiology of the Chinese Academy of Sciences and the Instituteof Excellence in Fungal Research and School of Science at Mae Fah LuangUniversity present a study of tropical members of the section Brunneopicti of the genus Agaricus in which four new species are described, all from Thailand.

The first new species described is named Agaricus niveogranulatus, meaning ‘white granules’, in reference to the colour and texture of the squamules (scales on the upper surface of the Mushroom). The Mushrooms of this fungus are 10-16 cm in diameter, starting out as hemisphere, but becoming flatter as they mature. The gills start out white, turning pink as they mature, then orange-brown, then brown, then dark brown. The flesh of the Mushroom is white, and gives of a phenol-like smell. These Mushrooms were found in Dipterocarp forests, Bamboo woodland and grassland, as well as in cultivated parks and gardens. It was found in Chiang Rai and Chiang Mai Provinces of Thailand.

Section viewof Agaricus niveogranulatus in laboratory. Scale bar is 20 mm. Chen et al. (2015).

The second new species described is named Agaricus brunneosquamulosus, meaning ‘brown squamules’, a reference to the colour of the scales on the upper surface of the Mushroom. The Mushrooms of this species reach 3-6 cm in diameter, starting out convex then flattening as they age. The gills are pinkish to grey, and turn dark brown with age. The flesh of the Mushroom is white, but turns pink after being cut, and emits a phenol-like smell. The species was found growing in grassland and gardens in Chiang Mai Province, Thailand.

Specimen of Agaricus brunneosquamulosus growing in the wild. Scale bar is 10 mm. Chen et al. (2015).

The third new species is named Agaricus sordidocarpus, in reference to the dirty appearance of the Mushrooms, which have fibrous squamules and develop a grey tint after rain. The Mushrooms grow up to 4 cm in diameter, grey-brown in colour and convex with a flattened top. The gills are pink or brownish-grey, turning darker as they age. The flesh of the Mushrooms is firm and white, and emits a phenol-like smell. The species was found growing in the grounds of Chiang Mai University.

Brownish gray squamules on the upper surface of an Agaricus sordidocarpusMushroom. Scale bar is 10 mm. Chen et al. (2015).

The final new species is named Agaricus toluenolens, in reference to the toluene-like odour the Mushrooms produce when bruised (expand). The Mushrooms are 3-6 cm in diameter and convex to flat in shape, with brownish-grey squamules. The gills are pink to brownish-grey, turning browner as they age. The flesh is firm and white, but with a strong, unpleasant smell. The Mushroom was found growing on grass in Chang Mai Province.

Mushroom of Agaricus toluenolens. Scale bar is 10 mm. Chen et al. (2015).

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Asteroid 2008 CQ passes the Earth.

Asteroid 2008 CQ passed by the Earth at a distance of 1 854 000 km (4.8 times the average distance between the Earth and the Moon, or 1.2 % of the average distance between the Earth and the Sun), at about 1.20 am GMT on Saturday 31 January 2015. There was no danger of the asteroid hitting us, though had it done so it would have presented only a minor threat. 2008 CQ has an estimated equivalent diameter of 36 m (i.e. it is estimated that a spherical object with the same volume would be 36 m in diameter), and an object of this size would be expected to break up in the atmosphere about 12 km above the ground, with only fragmentary material reaching the Earth's surface.

 The calculated orbit of 2008 CQ. JPL Small Body Database.

2008 CQ was discovered on 2 February 2008 by the Massachusetts Institute of Technology's Lincoln Near Earth Asteroid Research Laboratory in Socorro, New Mexico. The designation 2008 CQ implies that it was the 16th asteroid (asteroid Q) discovered in the first half of February 2008 (period 2008 C).

2008 CQ has a 511 day year orbital period and an eccentric orbit tilted at an angle of 8.7° to the plane of the Solar System, which takes it from 0.80 AU from the Sun (i.e. 80% of the average distance at which the Earth orbits the Sun) to 1.71 AU from the Sun (i.e. 171% of the average distance at which the Earth orbits the Sun, considerably outside the orbit of Mars). It is therefore classed as an Apollo Group Asteroid (an asteroid that is on average further from the Sun than the Earth, but which does get closer). This means that close encounters between the asteroid and Earth are fairly common, with the most recent having occured in January 2008.

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Asteroid 2015 BD511 passes the Earth.   Asteroid 2015 BD511 passed by the Earth at a distance of 1 714 000 km (4.47 times the average distance between the Earth and the Moon, or 1.1 % of the average distance between the Earth and the Sun), slightly before 0.50 am GMT on Friday 30 January...

Comet C/2014 Q2 (Lovejoy) reaches perihelion.

Comet C/2014 Q1 (Lovejoy) reached its perihelion (the closest point on its orbit to the Sun) on Friday 30 January 2015, when it will be 1.29 AU from the Sun....

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Sixteen new species of Scale Insects from Cretaceous and Eocene ambers.

Scale Insects are Hemipteran plant-parasites, closely related to Aphids. There are over 7900 living species, as well as an extensive fossil record, dating back to the Early Cretaceous. Most of the taxonomy of recent Scale Insects is based upon studies of the larger, wingless females, while most taxonomic studies of fossil groups has been based upon the smaller winged males, as these disperse in search of new females, and therefore are prone to becoming trapped in amber.

In a paper published in the American Museum Novitates on 16 January 2015, Isabelle Vea of the Richard Gilder Graduate School and Division of Invertebrate Zoology at the American Museum of Natural History and DavidGrimaldi, also of the Division of Invertebrate Zoology at the American Museum of Natural History, describe sixteen new species of Scale Insects from Early Cretaceous Lebanese Amber, Middle Cretaceous Burmese Amber, Early Eocene Cambay Amber and Middle Eocene Baltic Amber.

The first new species described is placed in a new genus, Pseudoweitschatus, meaning ‘similar to Weitschatus’, a previously described genus from Baltic Amber, which the new genus resembles and to which it is thought to be closely related. It is given the specific name audebertis, in honour of Vincent Audebert, Isobelle Rea’s high school biology teacher, for his inspiration to pursue a career in evolutionary biology, and in recognition of the role of science educators in inspiring future generations of scientists.

The species is described from a single male specimen from Middle Cretaceous Burmese Amber collected near Tanai Village in Kachin State, Myanmar. It is 1.76 mm in length, but significantly shrivelled, so that the original shape of the thorax is unclear. This species has two compound eyes, each with about 100 ommatidia, and ten-segmented antennae 1.30-1.33 mm in length. The wings are oval 1.55 mm in length, and 740 μm wide at their widest.

Dorsal view of Pseudoweitschatus audebertis. Abreviations: afp, anterior flexing patch; cr, cubital ridge; o, ocellus; pe, pedicel; pfp, posterior flexing patch; ps, penial sheath; pt, pterostigma; sc, scape; scr, subcostal ridge; td, tubular duct. Roman numerals indicate antennae segment numbers. Rea & Grimaldi (2015).

The second new species described is placed in a new genus, Kozarius, named in honour of the late Ferenc Kozár (1943–2013), for his contributions to the study of Scale Insects, and given the specific name perpetuus, meaning ‘continual’ or ‘continuing without interruption’.

The species is described from a single male specimen from Middle Cretaceous Burmese Amber collected near Tanai Village in Kachin State, Myanmar. It is 1.02 mm in length and has two large bulging compound eyes, each with 80-90 ommatidia, and 10 segmented antennae 480–535 μm in length. The wings are 660 μm long and 305 μm at their widest point.

Ventral view of Kozarius perpetuus. Abreviations: ae, aedeagus; bs, bristle; cr, cubital ridge; fe, femur; ha, hamulohaltere; pe, pedicel; pfp, posterior flexing patch; sc, scape; scr, subcostal ridge; tds, tubular duct secretion; ti, tibia; tr, trochanter; ts, tarsus. Rea & Grimaldi (2015).

The third new species described is also place in the genus Kozarius, and is given the specific name achronus, meaning ‘without time’, in reference to the timeless nature of specimens frozen in amber.

The species is described from a single male specimen from Middle Cretaceous Burmese Amber collected near Tanai Village in Kachin State, Myanmar.  It is 1.13 mm in length and has large protruding compound eyes with about 80 ommatidia each, and 9 segmented antennae 600–640 μm in length. The wings are 845 μm long and 90 μm wide at their widest point.

Ventral view of Kozarius achronus. Abreviations: ae, aedeagus; bs, bristle; ce, compound eye; cr, cubital ridge; ha, hamulohaltere; o, ocellus; pe, pedicel; pfp, posterior flexing patch; prtx, prothorax; sc, scape; scr, subcostal ridge; tds, tubular duct secretion. Rea & Grimaldi (2015).

The fourth new species described is placed in the genus Heteromargarodes, which currently includes three extent species from North America, and given the specific name hukamsinghi, in honour of Hukam Singh of the Birbal Sahni Institute for Palaeobotany, for his work on the fossils of the Cambay Shale and Cambay Amber.

The species is described from a single male specimen in a piece of Early Eocene Cambay Amber from the Tadkeshwar Lignite Mine in Gujerat State, India. The specimen is 1.6 mm long, with elongate, non-protruding compound eyes, each made up of about 30-40 large ommatidia. The antennae have at least 9 segments, though the tips of these are missing from the specimen. The wings are oval, 1.00 mm long and 570 μm wide at their widest point.

Heteromargarodes hukamsinghiin full ventral view. Abreviations: afp, anterior flexing patch; cl, claw; cr, cubital ridge; fe, femur; pfp, posterior flexing patch; pt, pterostigma; scr, subcostal ridge; ti, tibia; ts, tarsus. Rea & Grimaldi (2015).

The fifth new species described is placed in a new genus, Hodgsonicoccus, named in honour of Christopher Hodgson for his work on male Scale Insects, and given the specific name patefactus, meaning ‘discovered’ or ‘revealed’.

The species is described from a single specimen from Early Cretaceous amber from Bchare Mountain in northern Lebanon, thought to be a second or third instar nymph (a nymph is an immature Insect, an instar a life stage between moults). The specimen is 2.04 mm in length, with 10-15 large simple eyes. The antennae have 10 segments and are 1.56 mm in length. The specimen has no wings, as these are only present in adult male Scale Insects.

Hodgsonicoccus patefactus in lateral view. Abreviations: abds, abdominal setae; osc, ocular sclerite; prsc, prescutum. Rea & Grimaldi (2015).

The sixth new species described is placed in the genus Pityococcus, which previously includes three living species from North America and plus a specimen from Baltic Amber. It is given the specific name moniliformalis, meaning ‘necklace-shaped’, in reference to the segments of the antennae, which resemble beads.

The species is described from a single male specimen in Middle Eocene Baltic Amber, from the Palmnicken mines in Yantaryni on the Russian Baltic Coast. The specimen is 1.13 mm in length and has five pairs of simple eyes. The antennae are nine-segmented and 305–375 μm in length. The wings are oval, 780 μm long and 415 μm wide at their widest point.

Pityococcus moniliformalis in dorsal view. Abreviations: cr, cubital ridge; en, endophallus; mpnt, mesopostnotum; pe, pedicel; ps, penial sheath; prsc, prescutum; sc, scape; scr, subcostal ridge; sctl, scutellum. Roman numerals indicate antennae segment numbers. Rea & Grimaldi (2015).

The seventh new species is placed in the genus Apticoccus, which currently contains a single species from Early Cretaceous Lebanese Amber, and given the specific name fortis, meaning ‘strong’ in reference to its robust shape.

The species is described from a single male specimen in Early Cretaceous Amber from central Lebanon. It is 545 μm in length, and has a row of simple eyes on each side of the head; this probably contains six eyes on each side, but is hard to view due to a thin layer of bubbles covering the head. The antennae have ten segments and are about 220 μm in length. The wings are elongate, 620 μm long and 260 μm wide at their widest section.

Apticoccus fortis in dorsal view. Abreviations: cr, cubital ridge; pe, pedicel; prsc, prescutum; sc, scape; scr, subcostal ridge; se, simple eye; tsd, tarsal digitule. Roman numerals indicate antennae segment numbers. Rea & Grimaldi (2015).

The eighth new species is also placed in the genus Apticoccus, and is given the specific name longitenuis, meaning ‘long and thin’, in reference to the shape of the penal sheath.

The species is described from a single male specimen in Early Cretaceous amber from central Lebanon. The specimen is 615 μm long, with six simple eyes and ten segmented antennae, 300–320 μm in length. The wings are oval and 715 μm long and 135 μm wide at their widest point.

Apticoccus longitenuis in dorsal view. Abreviations: ae, aedeagus; cr, cubital ridge; pe, pedicel; prsc, prescutum; sc, scape; scr, subcostal ridge; sctl, scutellum. Rea & Grimaldi (2015).

The ninth new species described is placed in a new genus, Xiphos, for a type of double-edged sword used by Ancient Greeks, in reference to the shape of the penal sheath. It is given the specific name vani, in honour of Van Vea, the father of Isabelle Vea.

The species is described from a single male specimen from Early Cretaceous amber from central Lebanon. The specimen is 1.44 mm long and has a pair of protruding compound eyes, each with about 55–60 ommatidia. The antennae have ten segments and are 960–1000 μm long. The wings are suboval and 1135–1145 μm long and 460–465 μm at wide at their widest section.

Xiphos vani in dorsal view. Abreviations: pe, pedicel; sc, scape. Roman numerals indicate antennae segment numbers. Rea & Grimaldi (2015).

The tenth new species described is placed in a new genus, Alacrena, meaning ‘wing notch’ in reference to a distinctive notch on the wing, and given the specific name peculiaris, in reference to the peculiarity of that notch, as nothing similar has ever been recorded from any other Scale Insect.

The species is described from a single male specimen from Middle Cretaceous amber from near Tanai Village in Katchin State, Myanmar. The specimen is 990 μm in length and has a pair of large protruding compound eyes, probably with about 100 ommatidia, though this is difficult to determine. The antennae have ten segments and are about 450 μm long, the wings are rounded at the end with a distinctive notch, and 680 μm long, and 330 μm wide.

Alacrena peculiaris in dorsal view. Abreviations: adb, abdomen; ae, aedeagus; aln, alar notch; ce, compound eye; cr, cubital ridge; ha, hamulohaltere; o, ocellus; pe, pedicel; sc, scape; scr, subcostal ridge. Rea & Grimaldi (2015).

The eleventh new species described is placed in a new genus named Magnilens, meaning ‘large eye’, and given the specific name glaesaria, meaning ‘of amber’.

The species is described from a single male specimen from Middle Cretaceous amber from near Tanai Village in Katchin State, Myanmar. The specimen is 1.37 mm long and has seven pairs of large, protruding simple eyes. The antennae have ten segments and are 950 μm long, the wings are rounded, 1.28 mm long and 640 μm wide at their widest point.

Lateral view of Magnilens glaesaria. Abreviations: ae, aedeagus; cr, cubital ridge; dse, dorsal simple eye; fws, filamentous wax secretion; ps, penial sheath; ti, tibia; ts, tarsus; vse, ventral simple eye. Rea & Grimaldi (2015).

The twelth new species described is placed in a new genus, Pedicellicoccus, meaning ‘small foot’, in reference to the enlarged bubous foot of the species, and given the specific name marginatus, meaning ‘marginated’ in reference to the flat apical margin of the wing.

The species is described from a single male specimen from Middle Cretaceous amber from near Tanai Village in Katchin State, Myanmar. The specimen is 520 μm long, with at least five and possibly six pairs of simple eyes (this cannot be seen clearly due to the orientation of the specimen. The antennae are nine-segmented and 195–200 μm in length, the wings are broad and rounded distally, 500 μm long and 280 μm wide at the widest section.

Dorsal and view of Pedicellicoccus marginatus. Abreviations: en, endophallus; mpnt, mesopostnotum; ps, penial sheath; sctl, scutellum. Rea & Grimaldi (2015).

The thirteenth new species described is placed in a new genus named Williamsicoccus, in honour of Douglas Williams, for his contributions to Scale Insect systematics. It is given the specific name megalops, meaning ‘large eyes’.

The species is described from a single male specimen in Early Cretaceous amber from central Lebanon. The specimen is 775 μm in length and has two pairs of eyes, the lower pair being larger than the upper pair. The antennae have at least six segments, but are incomplete. The wings are long and thin with rounded tips, 885 μm long and 290 μm wide.

Dorsal view of Williamsicoccus megalops. Abreviations: dse, dorsal simple eye; mpnt, mesopostnotum; o, ocellus; pe, pedicel; prsc, prescutum; sc, scape. Rea & Grimaldi (2015).

The fourteenth new species described is placed in a new genus, Gilderius, named in honour of Richard Gilder, a trustee of the American Museum of Natural History, for his role in the creation of the Richard Gilder Graduate School. It is given the specific name eukrinops, meaning ‘well-separated’, in reference to the positioning of the ventral eyes.

The species is described from a single male specimen from Middle Cretaceous amber from near Tanai Village in Katchin State, Myanmar. The specimen is 840 μm long, though it is preserved in a bent position and may have been closer to 900 μm long in life. It has two pairs of large simple eyes, and ten-segmented antennae, 510–530 μm in length. The wings are narrow with rounded tips, 800 μm long and 400 μm wide.

Gilderius eukrinops in dorsal view. Abreviations: ae, aedeagus; dse, dorsal simple eye; fe, femur; o, ocellus; pe, pedicel; ps, penial sheath; sc, scape; ti, tibia; tr, trochanter; ts, tarsus; vse, ventral simple eye. Rea & Grimaldi (2015).

The fifteenth new species described is placed in a new genus, Rosahendersonia, named in honour of the late Rosa Henderson (1942–2012), for her work on the Insects of New Zealand. It is given the specific name prisca, meaning ‘ancient’.

The species is described from a single male specimen from Middle Cretaceous amber from near Tanai Village in Katchin State, Myanmar. The specimen is 535 μm in length, with two pairs of simple eyes. The antennae have ten segments and are 325–350 μm in length. The wings are 605 μm long with rounded tips.

Dorsal view of Rosahendersonia prisca. Abreviations: dse, dorsal simple eye; fe, femur; masc, membranous area on scutum; o, ocellus; pe, pedicel; sctl, scutellum; ti, tibia; ts, tarsus. Roman numerals indicate antennae segment numbers. Rea & Grimaldi (2015).

The final new species described is placed in a new genus, Normarkicoccus, named in honour of Benjamin Normark for his work on Armoured Scale Insects (Diaspididae), and given the specific name cambayae, in reference to the Cambay Basin, from where Cambay Amber originates.

The species is named from a single male specimen in Early Eocene Cambay Amber from the Tadkeshwar Lignite Mines in Gujarat State, India. The specimen is 365 μm long, with two pairs of simple eyes. The antennae have ten segments and are 225–250 μm long. The wings are narrow with rounded tips, 420 μm long and 100 μm wide.

Normarkicoccus cambayae in dorsal view. Abreviations: cl, claw; dse, dorsal simple eye; ha, hamulohaltere; pe, pedicel; sc, scape; ti, tibia; ts, tarsus. Roman numerals indicate antennae segment numbers. Rea & Grimaldi (2015).

See also…

A new species of Planthopper from northern Vietnam.                                                                              Planthoppers, Fulgoromorpha,  are small members of the True Bug order Hemiptera, which also includes Aphids, Cicadas and Shield Bugs, amongst other Insects. The genus Paricanoides was erected in 2003 by Ai-Ping Liang of the Institute of Zoology of the Chinese Academy of Sciences, to describe two species of Planthoppers, one from southern Vietnam and one from northern Vietnam and Hainan Island...

A new species of Planthopper from Central Vietnam.                                                                      Planthoppers are small members of the True Bug order Hemiptera, which live by sucking sap from plants in a similar way to Aphids (which are also Hemipterans). In...

The sources of the Xixia and Zhangpu Ambers.                                                                          Amber is the mineralized remnants of resins secreted by ancient plants. It is valued by palaeontologists due to the frequent presence of preserved insects, pollen and soft-bodied micro-organisms within amber clasts; it is also widely used in the jewellery industry, and in...

 

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