- Department of Invertebrate Zoology and Parasitology, University of Gdańsk, 59, Wita Stwosza Street, PL80-308 Gdańsk, Poland
Jacek Szwedo
University of Gdansk, Department of Invertebrate Zoology and Parasitolgy, Department Member
- Palaeozoology, Palaeoenvironment, Palaeoecology, Palaeontology, Palaeoclimatology, Paleoclimate, and 19 morePalaeogeography, Entomology, Systematic Entomology, Evolutionary Biology, Evolutionary Ecology, Evolution, Systematics (Taxonomy), Taxonomy, Cladistics (Systematic Biology), Hemiptera, Geology, Earth Sciences, Stratigraphy, Taphonomy, Insect Taxonomy, Fossils, Palaeoentomology, Taxonomy of order Hemiptera, and 3D Reconstructionedit
ABSTRACT Here we describe and illustrate a new genus and species of the extinct froghopper family Sinoalidae, Cretomultinervis burmensis gen. et sp. nov. from Burmese (Myanmar) amber. The new genus can be recognized from all sinoalids by... more
ABSTRACT Here we describe and illustrate a new genus and species of the extinct froghopper family Sinoalidae, Cretomultinervis burmensis gen. et sp. nov. from Burmese (Myanmar) amber. The new genus can be recognized from all sinoalids by the combination of hind tibia armed with five interlaced lateral spines, leaf-shaped tegmen with very broad postcostal cell, basal cell extremely long, hindwing with costal margin armed with 5 micro-spines basally, cross vein mp-cua apparently basad of stem CuA fork. This peculiar combination of primitive and derived characters suggests that Cretomultinervis likely represents an early-diverging lineage of Sinoalidae, increasing our knowledge on the morphological disparity of this extinct family during the late Mesozoic.
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Fossils are critical for understanding the evolutionary diversification, turnover, and morphological disparification of extant lineages. While fossils cannot be sequenced, phenome-scale data may be generated using micro-computed... more
Fossils are critical for understanding the evolutionary diversification, turnover, and morphological disparification of extant lineages. While fossils cannot be sequenced, phenome-scale data may be generated using micro-computed tomography (µ-CT), thus revealing hidden structures and internal anatomy, when preserved. Here, we adduce the male caste of a new fossil ant species from Miocene Ethiopian amber that resembles members of the Aneuretinae, matching the operational definition of the subfamily. Through the use of synchrotron radiation for µ-CT, we critically test the aneuretine-identity hypothesis. Our results indicate that the new fossils do not belong to the Aneuretinae, but rather the Ponerini (Ponerinae). Informed by recent phylogenomic studies, we were able to place the fossils close to the extant genus Cryptopone based on logical character analysis, with the two uniquely sharing absence of the subpetiolar process among all ponerine genera. Consequently, we: (1) revise the ...
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The Early Miocene (16–23 Mya) amber of Ethiopia constitutes a new source of fossil ants for Africa, where they are otherwise poorly documented. Here we report a diversified assemblage of six subfamilies and at least 19 genera that are... more
The Early Miocene (16–23 Mya) amber of Ethiopia constitutes a new source of fossil ants for Africa, where they are otherwise poorly documented. Here we report a diversified assemblage of six subfamilies and at least 19 genera that are still predominantly alive in the Afrotropics today. In this first account, a particular reference is made to the subfamily Dolichoderinae, with the description of two new species: Technomyrmex svojtkai Perrichot & Engel sp. nov. and Ravavy goldmani Boudinot & Perrichot sp. nov. The first is illustrated and described based on synchrotron-radiation microcomputed tomography, and the second represents the first fossil record for the tribe Bothriomyrmecini and Ravavy, a Malagasy and Afrotropical genus that was hitherto monotypic. The ant composition in Ethiopian amber is congruent with the global pattern emerging across ants and showing a Neogene diversification almost exclusively within extant genera.
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A new genus and species of the tropiduchid planthopper of the tribe Tropiduchini is described as Bitara augusta gen. et sp. nov. from Madang Province, Papua New Guinea. It is the 18th species of Tropiduchini and the 9th genus known east... more
A new genus and species of the tropiduchid planthopper of the tribe Tropiduchini is described as Bitara augusta gen. et sp. nov. from Madang Province, Papua New Guinea. It is the 18th species of Tropiduchini and the 9th genus known east of the Wallace line. It is another taxon with characteristic asymmetric genitalia within this tribe.
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Szwedo, Jacek (2011): Ordralfabetix sirophatanis gen. et sp. n. — the first Lophopidae from the Lowermost Eocene Oise amber, Paris Basin, France (Hemiptera: Fulgoromorpha). Zootaxa 2822: 52-60, DOI: 10.5281/zenodo.207772
Research Interests: Geology, Paleontology, Taxonomy, Biodiversity, Arthropoda, and 3 moreHemiptera, Insecta, and Animalia
Ghost lineages have always challenged the understanding of organism evolution. They participate in misinterpretations in phylogenetic, clade dating, biogeographic, and paleoecologic studies. They directly result from fossilization biases... more
Ghost lineages have always challenged the understanding of organism evolution. They participate in misinterpretations in phylogenetic, clade dating, biogeographic, and paleoecologic studies. They directly result from fossilization biases and organism biology. The Cylindrotomidae are a perfect example of an unexplained ghost lineage during the Mesozoic, as its sister family Tipulidae is already well diversified during the Cretaceous, while the oldest Cylindrotomidae are Paleogene representatives of the extant genus Cylindrotoma and of the enigmatic fossil genus Cyttaromyia. Here we clarify the phylogenetic position of Cyttaromyia in the stem group of the whole family, suggesting that the crown group of the Cylindrotomidae began to diversify during the Cenozoic, unlike their sister group Tipulidae. We make a comparative analysis of all species in Cyttaromyia, together with the descriptions of the two new species, C. gelhausi sp. nov. and C. freiwaldi sp. nov., and the revision of C. o...
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FIGURE 6. Serromyia galilaeae Szadziewski & Alwin, sp. nov. female; a—flagellum, b—palpus, c—seminal capsules, dwing, e—hind claw, f—mid femur.
Research Interests: Geography, Taxonomy, Biodiversity, Arthropoda, Tribe, and 5 moreInsecta, Diptera, CERATOPOGONIDAE, Animalia, and Biting
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Biting midges, nematoceran flies family Ceratopogonidae, is represented by more than 6200 valid species. This group is still poorly known and not easy in identification. Structural coloration of insect wings (WIP, or Wing Interference... more
Biting midges, nematoceran flies family Ceratopogonidae, is represented by more than 6200 valid species. This group is still poorly known and not easy in identification. Structural coloration of insect wings (WIP, or Wing Interference Pattern) is an example of an optical phenomenon called iridescence, which is based on the formation of pigment-free, rainbow colours caused by the interference of white light reflected from transparent or semi-transparent structures. Preliminary results indicate that the structural colouring of the wings of these insects may be helpful in the delimitation of closely related and cryptic species.
Research Interests: Evolutionary Biology, Zoology, Biology, Medicine, Iridescence, and 4 moreInsect, Culicoides, CERATOPOGONIDAE, and Wing
Abstract A new genus and species of planthopper, Lanlakawa changdaensis gen. et sp. nov., is described based on a well-preserved specimen from mid-Cretaceous Kachin (Burmese) amber. This is the ninth genus of the extinct family... more
Abstract A new genus and species of planthopper, Lanlakawa changdaensis gen. et sp. nov., is described based on a well-preserved specimen from mid-Cretaceous Kachin (Burmese) amber. This is the ninth genus of the extinct family Perforissidae and the sixth genus of the subfamily Cixitettiginae. The new genus mainly differs from the five previously described genera in tegmen venation and the number of teeth in tibial pectens. Previous researches of sensory pits and wing-coupling apparatus are briefly reviewed.
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Two new fossil genera and two new species of biting midges from mid-Cretaceous Burmese amber are described and illustrated: Burmahelea neli Szadziewski & Sontag gen. et sp. nov. (Atriculicoidini) and Nelohelea neli Szadziewski & Sontag... more
Two new fossil genera and two new species of biting midges from mid-Cretaceous Burmese amber are described and illustrated: Burmahelea neli Szadziewski & Sontag gen. et sp. nov. (Atriculicoidini) and Nelohelea neli Szadziewski & Sontag gen. et sp. nov. (Ceratopogonini). This is the oldest record (99 Ma) of a predatory biting midge in the extant tribe Ceratopogonini and the subfamily Ceratopogoninae.
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The Fossil Insect Network was created 33 years ago in 1996 in Strasbourg, France, under the auspices of the European Science Foundation. Since then, several meetings were organised: 1998—First International Palaeoentomological Conference... more
The Fossil Insect Network was created 33 years ago in 1996 in Strasbourg, France, under the auspices of the European Science Foundation. Since then, several meetings were organised: 1998—First International Palaeoentomological Conference in Moscow, Russia; 1998—World Congress on Amber Inclusions in Vitoria-Gasteiz, Basque Country, Spain; 2000—Brazilian Symposium on Palaeoarthropodology in Ribeirão Preto, Brazil; 2001—Second International Congress on Palaeoentomology, Fossil Insects, Kraków, Poland. This Congress in Kraków was also the origination of the International Palaeoentomological Society. The year 2005 was very important as three meetings, i.e. the Palaeoentomological Conference, the World Congress on Amber Inclusions, and the International Meeting on Palaeoarthropodology were decided to merge together as Fossils X3. This decision was made in Pretoria, South Africa. Following the International Congresses on Fossil Insects, Arthropods and Amber, Fossils X3 continued in 2007—Vi...
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The first representative of Dysmorphoptilidae from the Middle Permian of China is described. Linglunxiellus chaohuensis gen. and sp. nov. is placed together with Permocixiella venosa Becker-Migdisova, 1961 from Kuznetsk Basin in the newly... more
The first representative of Dysmorphoptilidae from the Middle Permian of China is described. Linglunxiellus chaohuensis gen. and sp. nov. is placed together with Permocixiella venosa Becker-Migdisova, 1961 from Kuznetsk Basin in the newly established subfamily Permocixiellinae subfam. nov., Eoscarterellinae stat. nov. is proposed as separate subfamily within Dysmorphoptilidae. The classification and fossil record of Dysmorphoptilidae is reviewed, and an annotated catalogue of included taxa in Dysmorphotiloidea is presented.
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Palaeoentomology started in the late XVIIIth century, shortly after the 10th edition of Linnaeus’ Systema Naturae (the foundation of modern taxonomy), when papers on the curiosities of insects entombed in fossil resins were published. The... more
Palaeoentomology started in the late XVIIIth century, shortly after the 10th edition of Linnaeus’ Systema Naturae (the foundation of modern taxonomy), when papers on the curiosities of insects entombed in fossil resins were published. The beginning of XIXth century (with the growing interest in geological sciences and prehistoric life) witnessed the first attempts to study and describe insects from sedimentary rocks. This discipline then developed during the XIXth and beginning of the XXth centuries; and resulted in some major works and reviews (summarizing the knowledge on fossil insects and other terrestrial arthropods) published in the geological and biological literature. The XXth century was a period of relatively slow but constant development in palaeoentomology, during which the famous “Treatise on invertebrate paleontology: Arthropoda 4. Superclass Hexapoda” (cataloguing the knowledge on fossil insects) was published (Carpenter, 1992). At the beginning of XXIst century, pala...
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Research Interests: Evolutionary Biology, Geography, Geology, Biology, Ecology, and 4 moreGenus, Hemiptera, Wing, and sternorrhyncha
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A new fossil ceratopogonid genus and species from Lower Cretaceous Lebanese amber, Baskintoconops maaloufi Pielowska-Ceranowska gen. et sp. nov., is described and illustrated. The studied material originates from a newly discovered amber... more
A new fossil ceratopogonid genus and species from Lower Cretaceous Lebanese amber, Baskintoconops maaloufi Pielowska-Ceranowska gen. et sp. nov., is described and illustrated. The studied material originates from a newly discovered amber site in the Lebanese village Baskinta at a locality dubbed Qanat Bakish. The described genus is typified by its wing venation pattern combining characters of genera Fossileptoconops and Jordanoconops belonging to the subfamily Leptoconopinae.
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Trichomyia (Septemtrichomyia) grimaldii sp. nov. and Trichomyia (Trichomyia) fudalai sp. nov. from the Lower Miocene Dominican amber are characterised, described, illustrated and their taxonomic position discussed. These fossils... more
Trichomyia (Septemtrichomyia) grimaldii sp. nov. and Trichomyia (Trichomyia) fudalai sp. nov. from the Lower Miocene Dominican amber are characterised, described, illustrated and their taxonomic position discussed. These fossils constitute the first record of the Trichomyiinae and increase the knowledge on the biodiversity of the biological inclusions from the Dominican amber. Chresonymy and subgeneric division of the genus Trichomyia are presented and briefly discussed.
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Abstract A new species, Dorytocus jiaxiaoae Song, Szwedo & Bourgoin sp. nov., from the mid-Cretaceous Burmese amber is described and illustrated. This species represents the first record of the adult of the extinct family Dorytocidae.... more
Abstract A new species, Dorytocus jiaxiaoae Song, Szwedo & Bourgoin sp. nov., from the mid-Cretaceous Burmese amber is described and illustrated. This species represents the first record of the adult of the extinct family Dorytocidae. The supplementary description for the fourth-instar nymph of Dorytocus ornithorhynchus Emeljanov & Shcherbakov is provided. The morphological peculiarities of the new fossil species are briefly discussed, and the diagnostic characters of the family diagnosis are suggested and improved is now based on the combination of both adult and nymph characters.
Research Interests: Zoology, Geography, Geology, Biology, Fossil record, and 4 moreCretaceous, Hemiptera, Nymph, and Burmese
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Research Interests: Zoology, Geology, Paleontology, Biology, Cretaceous, and 4 moreMesozoic, Genus, Hemiptera, and Burmese
Abstract A new species of the fossil genus Minyohelea (Diptera: Ceratopogonidae) from the lower Barremian (Lower Cretaceous) Lebanese amber is studied. The new species Minyohelea nexuosa sp. nov. is described, illustrated, and its unusual... more
Abstract A new species of the fossil genus Minyohelea (Diptera: Ceratopogonidae) from the lower Barremian (Lower Cretaceous) Lebanese amber is studied. The new species Minyohelea nexuosa sp. nov. is described, illustrated, and its unusual male genitalia is compared with those of the other fossil representatives of this extinct genus.
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A new genus and species of Aleurodicinae whiteflies from the Eocene Baltic amber is described. Medocellodes blackmani Drohojowska et Szwedo gen. et sp. nov. is the second representative of Aleurodicinae from Baltic amber, presenting... more
A new genus and species of Aleurodicinae whiteflies from the Eocene Baltic amber is described. Medocellodes blackmani Drohojowska et Szwedo gen. et sp. nov. is the second representative of Aleurodicinae from Baltic amber, presenting mixture of plesiomorphic characters, as retention of median ocellus, with apomorphic states, shared also with other contemporaneous Aleurodicinae from Rovno amber. Morphological characters of the newly described fossil are briefly discussed.
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Abstract A planthopper originally assigned to the genus Boreocixius in Surijokocixiidae (Surijokocixioidea, Fulgoromorpha) from the Ladinian (Middle Triassic) of Tongchuan in Shaanxi, northwestern China is described as Boreocixius... more
Abstract A planthopper originally assigned to the genus Boreocixius in Surijokocixiidae (Surijokocixioidea, Fulgoromorpha) from the Ladinian (Middle Triassic) of Tongchuan in Shaanxi, northwestern China is described as Boreocixius tongchuanensis Zhang et al. sp. nov. As the third species ascribed to the genus, it differs from its congeners in having the much larger tegmen with postnodal veinlets and pigmented bands, providing new morphological information for Boreocixius. The establishment of the new species further increases the diversity of Boreocixius and Surijokocixiidae as well.
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A synthesis of planthopper suprafamilial and familial classification is provided and discussed, solving some nomenclatural issues for the group, and adopting an enriched presentation with a clear distinction between the taxon name and its... more
A synthesis of planthopper suprafamilial and familial classification is provided and discussed, solving some nomenclatural issues for the group, and adopting an enriched presentation with a clear distinction between the taxon name and its concept.
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Tegulicicada plana Lin,1986 from the Middle Jurassic of South China,is transferred to the genus Karabasia as Karabasia plana(Lin,1986) comb.nov.,and is re-described as the first Peloridioidea from China.This discovery extends the... more
Tegulicicada plana Lin,1986 from the Middle Jurassic of South China,is transferred to the genus Karabasia as Karabasia plana(Lin,1986) comb.nov.,and is re-described as the first Peloridioidea from China.This discovery extends the palaeogeographical distribution of Mesozoic Peloridioidea from the warm temperate zone(Central Asia,Siberia and Mongolia) to the subtropical and/or tropical areas of South China.An annotated list of species of Karabasiidae(fossil Peloridioidea) is presented.
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Four new fossil species of haematophagous biting midges of the genus Culicoides Latreille, from mid-Cretaceous Burmese amber are described and illustrated: C. bojarskii Szadziewski & Dominiak sp. nov., C. burmiticus... more
Four new fossil species of haematophagous biting midges of the genus Culicoides Latreille, from mid-Cretaceous Burmese amber are described and illustrated: C. bojarskii Szadziewski & Dominiak sp. nov., C. burmiticus Szadziewski & Dominiak sp. nov., C. ellenbergeri Szadziewski & Dominiak sp. nov. and C. myanmaricus Szadziewski & Dominiak sp. nov. These extinct species are assigned to the new subgenus, Groganomyia Szadziewski & Dominiak subgen. nov. which also includes an extant species that inhabits European mountains, Culicoides cameroni Campbell & Pelham-Clinton, 1960, the type species. These very old (99 Ma) haematophagous biting midges of the extant genus Culicoides from Burmese amber supports the hypothesis that most groups of modern biting midges evolved during the mid-Cretaceous greenhouse climate.
Research Interests: Evolutionary Biology, Zoology, Biology, Medicine, Genus, and 4 moreCulicoides, CERATOPOGONIDAE, Subgenus, and Biting
Prompted by a rapid development in the field of palaeoentomology, fossil terrestrial arthropods and amber research, Palaeoentomology was established in late 2018 through a collaborative effort between the International Palaeoentomological... more
Prompted by a rapid development in the field of palaeoentomology, fossil terrestrial arthropods and amber research, Palaeoentomology was established in late 2018 through a collaborative effort between the International Palaeoentomological Society (IPS) and Magnolia Press (Azar et al., 2018). The inception of this scientific journal was met with enthusiastic reception from the palaeoentomological and amber community, and it achieved a consistent and robust growth throughout its initial five-year period (2018–2022). A significant milestone was attained in November 2022, as Palaeoentomology was granted acceptance into the Emerging Sources Citation Index™ (ESCI) within the esteemed Web of Science Core Collection™, a recognition indicative of its emerging influence. All papers published between 2018 and 2022 within Palaeoentomology were incorporated into the ESCI in January 2023, solidifying the journal’s presence and visibility within the scholarly landscape. More recently, according to...
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Libanonemopalpus grimaldii gen. et sp. nov. is characterised, illustrated, and described from the lower Barremian amber of Bqaatouta (Lebanon). It represents the earliest record, the first and only Bruchomyiinae psychodid with functional... more
Libanonemopalpus grimaldii gen. et sp. nov. is characterised, illustrated, and described from the lower Barremian amber of Bqaatouta (Lebanon). It represents the earliest record, the first and only Bruchomyiinae psychodid with functional piercing mouthparts. The discovery of this Cretaceous psychodid fly improves our knowledge of the palaeobiodiversity of Bruchomyiinae and particularly on the evolution of mouthparts in this group.
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Fossil new genus and species Afroscatopse haennii gen. et sp. nov. from Miocene Ethiopian amber are described and illustrated and placed in the tribe Colobostematini. The gigantic adults of this scavenger fly, largest within the family,... more
Fossil new genus and species Afroscatopse haennii gen. et sp. nov. from Miocene Ethiopian amber are described and illustrated and placed in the tribe Colobostematini. The gigantic adults of this scavenger fly, largest within the family, with dull body, long antennae and broad wings evidently were adapted to live on bark of trees. It is suggested that it was a myrmecophilous species with larvae living in the nests of tree ants.
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Gedanochila museisucini gen. et sp. nov. is described, based on inclusions in the Eocene Baltic amber. A morphological phylogenetic analysis supports the placement of Gedanochila gen. nov. into the tribe Achilini. Definition, content and... more
Gedanochila museisucini gen. et sp. nov. is described, based on inclusions in the Eocene Baltic amber. A morphological phylogenetic analysis supports the placement of Gedanochila gen. nov. into the tribe Achilini. Definition, content and subdivisions of the tribe as well as position of extinct taxa placed within are briefly discussed.
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The paper presents possibilities of using animal inclusions, especially arthropods entombed in fossilized resins, in reconstructions and interpretations of palaeobiota and palaeoclimates occurring at times of resin exudation. Arthropod... more
The paper presents possibilities of using animal inclusions, especially arthropods entombed in fossilized resins, in reconstructions and interpretations of palaeobiota and palaeoclimates occurring at times of resin exudation. Arthropod inclusions are of use also in palaeoecological investigations. Some of them posses value of indicative taxa, useful in identification of ambers and biostratigraphy.
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Coleorrhyncha (also called Peloridiomorpha) are small, rarely medium sized (2–5.5 mm), insects with a mixture of cicadomorphan and bug-like characters, representing a separate suborder within the Hemiptera. The body is dorsoventrally... more
Coleorrhyncha (also called Peloridiomorpha) are small, rarely medium sized (2–5.5 mm), insects with a mixture of cicadomorphan and bug-like characters, representing a separate suborder within the Hemiptera. The body is dorsoventrally flattened, with tegmina folding flat, their commissural margins and apices overlapping in repose.
