Roman J. Godunko

Coxoplectoptera, a new fossil order of Palaeoptera (Arthropoda: Insecta), with comments on the phylogeny of the stem group of mayflies (Ephemeroptera)

Mickoleitia longimanus gen. et sp.n. is described from the Lower Cretaceous limestone of the Crato Formation in Brazil. It is attributed to a new family Mickoleitiidae and a new fossil insect order Coxoplectoptera within the palaeopterous Ephemerida, based on the presence of an elongated costal brace. This fossil insect exhibits a very peculiar combination of derived characters like specialized forelegs with strongly elongated, free coxae, single-clawed pretarsus, and distinctly skewed pterothorax as in dragonflies. On the other hand, several plesiomorphies are present that exclude this taxon from modern Ephemeroptera, namely large hind wings with widened anal area and numerous cross veins that separate the elongate costal brace from the costal margin. Fossil larvae described by Willmann as larval Cretereismatidae are herein attributed to Mickoleitiidae fam.n., based on the shared presence of broad hind wing buds with distinctly broadened anal area, wing bud venation similar to the adult holotype, and subchelate forelegs with elongate free coxae. These larvae are also highly autapomorphic in the structure of their abdominal gills and laterally flattened body with vertically oval section that is unique within Ephemerida. On the other hand they possess plesiomorphic lateral wing pads with pronounced articulation like Palaeozoic pterygote larvae, while wing pads in modern insects are always secondarily fused to the tergum. A similar fossil larva from the Jurassic of Transbaikals was earlier described as Mesogenesia petersae and classified within modern mayflies. It is herein attributed to Mickoleitiidae fam.n. Coxoplectoptera are recognized as putative sister group of modern Ephemeroptera based on the shared presence of only 7 pairs of abdominal gills, while Permoplectoptera still have retained 9 pairs of gills. The phylogenetic reclassification of the mayfly stem group by Willmann is critically discussed and modified.

Mayflies of the Crimean Peninsula. III. The description of Baetis milani sp. n. with notes on taxonomy of the subgenus Rhodobaetis JACOB, 2003 (Ephemeroptera: Baetidae)

Baetis (Rhodobaetis) milani sp. n. (larva, as well as reared male and female su- bimago and imago) is described from numerous localities in foothills and mountains of the Peninsula. Critical distinguishing characters are illustrated and available data on biol- ogy and distribution of the new species are summarized. Taxonomic characters of West Palaearctic species of the subgenus Rhodobaetis JACOB, 2003 are discussed in detail.

Commented checklist of mayflies (Ephemeroptera) of Mongolia

The checklist of Mongolian Ephemeroptera now contains 96 species in 34 genera and 14 families. Based on extensive material collected in July 2005, Ameletus cedrensis, Siphlonurus palaearcticus, Siphlonurus zhelochovtsevi, Acanthametropus nikolskyi, Baetis atrebatinus, Afronurus abracadabrus, Afronurus levis, Sparbarus corniger, and Caenis macronyx are recorded for the first time, in addition to more than 50 new regional records. Literature sources of individual records (including those of preliminary determinations), unambiguous synonyms, taxonomic shifts, some changes of nomenclature and distribution from the chorological point of view are discussed. The Mongolian mayfly fauna consists of large area species (about 1%), Holarctic species (about 12%), Palaearctic species (about 22%), East Palaearctic species (about 60%) and East Palaearctic species so far found only in insufficiently known regions of Mongolia (about 5%).

New fossil findings of the mayfly genera Balticobaetisca Staniczek & Bechly, 2002 (Ephemeroptera: Baetiscidae) and Borinquena Traver, 1938 (Leptophlebiidae: Atalophlebiinae)

The well preserved male imago of a new species, Balticobaetisca stuttgardia sp. nov., is described and illustrated from Baltic amber (Eocene). The new species is the second representative of the previously monotypic fossil genus Balticobaetisca Staniczek & Bechly, 2002, so far only known from the species B. velteni Staniczek & Bechly, 2002 from Baltic amber (Eocene). Simultaneously, the second record of the fossil species Borinquena parva Staniczek, 2003 from Dominican amber (Miocene) is presented. Complementary descriptions and illustrations of the studied specimens are given, and distinguishing characters and taxonomical data are discussed.

Two New Species of the Genus Baetis Leach, 1815 (Ephemeroptera: Baetidae) from Cyprus

Abstract. Two new species, namely Baetis (Baetis) mirkae sp. nov. (larva, female subimago, and male imago) and Baetis (Rhodobaetis) irenkae sp. nov. (larva and male imago), from Cyprus are described and their critical diagnostic characters illustrated. The former is a representative of the subgenus Baetis s. str. (the B. lutheri species-group) showing close relationships mainly to B. (B.) lutheri Müller-Liebenau, 1967 and B. (B.) vardarensis Ikonomov, 1962; the latter is classified within the subgenus Rhodobaetis Jacob, 2003, being related mainly to B. (R.) ilex Zimmermann, 1978. Affinities of these new species to all representatives of respective related species-group and Rhodobaetis are discussed in detail and brief notes to their biology and distribution are presented. Based on data available so far, a detailed biogeographical analysis directed mainly to chorology and faunistic origin of 8 Palaearctic representatives of the B. lutheri species-group and 26 species of Rhodobaetis (incl. B. irenkae sp. nov. described below) is offered.

Baetis (Baetis) cypronyx sp. n., a new species of the Baetis alpinus species-group (Insecta, Ephemeroptera, Baetidae) from Cyprus, with annotated checklist of Baetidae in the Mediterranean islands

Abstract A detailed description of the larvae of Baetis (Baetis) cypronyx sp. n., a representative of the Baetis alpinus species-group within the mayfly family Baetidae, is provided, including a differential diagnosis with regard to closely related species of the group, especially Baetis melanonyx (Pictet, 1843) and Baetis baroukianus Thomas & Dia, 1984. The new species is mainly distinguished by mouthparts (i.e. the shape and setation of labrum, maxillary and labial palps, details of paraglossae and mandibular incisors), setation of legs and abdominal terga, and length of paracercus. All available data on the biology of this putative endemic species of Cyprus are summarized. Annotated distributional data of the 33 species of Baetidae so far recorded from the Mediterranean islands are given, including new records and also including first data from Malta.

New species of the genus Oligoneuriella Ulmer, 1924 (Ephemeroptera: Oligoneuriidae) from Turkey

Three new species of the genus Oligoneuriella Ulmer, 1924 from Turkey are described, namely Oligoneuriella magna sp. nov., Oligoneuriella paulopilosa sp. nov. and Oligoneuriella pectinata sp. nov. Differential diagnostic characters are given with regard to the previously known Oligoneuriella species. Data on the affinities, biology, and distribution of the new species are also provided. New morphological characters (setation of mouthparts and gill plates) potentially useful for the taxonomy of the genus are introduced.

Revision of fossil Metretopodidae (Insecta: Ephemeroptera) in Baltic amber – Part 2: Description of a new species of Metretopus Eaton, 1901

In the second part of the revision of fossil Metretopodidae, a new species of the genus Metretopus Eaton, 1901 is described and illustrated based on a male imago. Metretopus dividussp. nov. is the second fossil species of the genus. Distinguishing characters for its separation from other fossil and recent representatives of Metretopus are discussed. http://www.zoobank.org/urn:lsid:zoobank.org:act:BCC5CB69-8014-4DA1-A0DA-DCF714969081

Fossil Mayfly Collections of the Museum Für Naturkunde, Humboldt University, Berlin. II. Redescription of Baltameletus oligocaenicus Demoulin, 1968 with Notes on Ameletidae McCafferty, 1991 (Insecta: Ephemeroptera) from the Eocene Baltic Amber

Abstract. The holotype of Baltameletus oligocaenicus Demoulin, 1968 preserved in Eocene Baltic amber and housed in the W. Simon amber collection at the Museum für Naturkunde, Humboldt University, Berlin is redescribed and illustrated. Baltameletus Demoulin, 1968 can be attributed to the family Ameletidae McCafferty, 1991 by a combination of following characteristics: (1) lateroparapsidal suture of mesothorax relatively elongate; (2) epimeron of mesothorax with membranous area between anepimeron and katepimeron; (3) mesonotal suture stretched backward medially and anterior paracoxal suture complete; (4) furcasternal protuberances contiguous; (5) hind wings well developed with RS, MA and MP triads; (6) tarsi 5-segmented with first tarsal segment fused with tibia; (7) forceps with two distal segments; (8) all tarsal claws dissimilar. This fossil genus clearly differs from all other representatives of the family Ameletidae by the following combination of characteristics: (1) unpaired projection of the vertex; (2) dorsally contiguous compound eyes (3); 2–3 mainly simple veins stretching from CuA to basitornal margin of forewing. Additionally, some data on the fossil representatives of Ameletidae are given.

Revision of fossil Metretopodidae (Insecta: Ephemeroptera) in Baltic amber-Part 3: Description of two new species of Siphloplecton Clemens, 1915, with notes on the re-discovered lectotype of Siphloplecton macrops (Pictet-Baraban & Hagen, 1856).

In this contribution, we provide a complementary description of the re-discovered lectotype of Siphloplecton macrops (Pictet-Baraban & Hagen, 1856). Additionally, complementary descriptions of S. barabani Staniczek & Godunko, 2012 and S. picteti Staniczek & Godunko, 2012 based on new material are given. Two new species, S. sartorii sp. nov. and S. gattolliati sp. nov., are described from male imagines and attributed to two newly defined species groups within Siphloplecton.