ABSTRACT Here we describe and illustrate a new genus and species of the extinct froghopper family... 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.
Fossils are critical for understanding the evolutionary diversification, turnover, and morphologi... 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 ...
The Early Miocene (16–23 Mya) amber of Ethiopia constitutes a new source of fossil ants for Afric... 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.
A new genus and species of the tropiduchid planthopper of the tribe Tropiduchini is described as ... 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.
Szwedo, Jacek (2011): Ordralfabetix sirophatanis gen. et sp. n. — the first Lophopidae from the L... more 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
Ghost lineages have always challenged the understanding of organism evolution. They participate i... 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...
Biting midges, nematoceran flies family Ceratopogonidae, is represented by more than 6200 valid s... 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.
Abstract A new genus and species of planthopper, Lanlakawa changdaensis gen. et sp. nov., is desc... 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.
ABSTRACT Here we describe and illustrate a new genus and species of the extinct froghopper family... 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.
Fossils are critical for understanding the evolutionary diversification, turnover, and morphologi... 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 ...
The Early Miocene (16–23 Mya) amber of Ethiopia constitutes a new source of fossil ants for Afric... 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.
A new genus and species of the tropiduchid planthopper of the tribe Tropiduchini is described as ... 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.
Szwedo, Jacek (2011): Ordralfabetix sirophatanis gen. et sp. n. — the first Lophopidae from the L... more 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
Ghost lineages have always challenged the understanding of organism evolution. They participate i... 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...
Biting midges, nematoceran flies family Ceratopogonidae, is represented by more than 6200 valid s... 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.
Abstract A new genus and species of planthopper, Lanlakawa changdaensis gen. et sp. nov., is desc... 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.
The paper presents possibilities of using animal inclusions, especially arthropods entombed in fo... 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.
Coleorrhyncha (also called Peloridiomorpha) are small, rarely medium sized (2–5.5 mm), insects wi... 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.
Fossil taxa ascribed to Hemiptera Fulgoromorpha (including Fulgoroidea, with Fulgoridiidae† consi... more Fossil taxa ascribed to Hemiptera Fulgoromorpha (including Fulgoroidea, with Fulgoridiidae† considered as a family, Surijokocixioidea† considered as a superfamily and Coleoscytoidea†) are listed, annotated and referenced. Species are arranged alphabetically in superfamilies, families and genera and provided with geological and geographical data, if available. Systematic data, dubious taxa and taxa excluded from particular families, moved to other groups or excluded from Fulgoromorpha are annotated and discussed. A list of all major taxonomic groups of Hemiptera, down to the family level, is provided. Papers of relevant information on fossil planthoppers are included in the reference list. Most taxa and all dubious taxa have been annotated and discussed for formal placement into other groups or excluded from Fulgoromorpha if necessary. The rank of Surijokocixiidae is raised to superfamily level — Surijokocixioidea stat. nov. A new species name — “schandelahensis” nom. nov. is proposed for Fulgoridium rotundatum Bode, 1953, name preoccupied by Fulgoridium rotundatum Handlirsch, 1939. The rank of Myerslopiidae (Cicadomorpha) is raised to superfamily level — Myerslopioidea stat. nov.
Uploads
Papers by Jacek Szwedo