Wiesław Krzemiński

Late Palaeozoic Paoliida is the sister group of Dictyoptera (Insecta: Neoptera)

Paoliida is an insect group of highly controversial composition and equally controversial affinities. Based on comprehensive reinvestigations we propose a new delimitation of the insect order Paoliida sensu nov. associating the families Paoliidae and Blattinopsidae on the basis of the following main wing venation characters: veins CuA convex and CuP concave separating from a rather long basal stem Cu; a short, more or less distinct, but generally convex arculus brace (crossvein) between M and CuA (more distinct in forewing than in hind wing), and a broad area containing veinlets, between CuP and CuA, with a general course of CuA making a double curve (autapomorphy); CuP straight or sigmoidal. The Paoliida is considered as a neopteran clade and potential sister group of the Dictyoptera on the basis of the presence of well-defined anterior branches of CuA, with the same convexity as the median vein and more concave than the posterior branches of the same vein (synapomorphy). The polarities of the other characters shared by these clades are discussed. New diagnoses of the order Paoliida and the family Paoliidae are provided after re-examination of the type material. We attribute Herbstiala herbsti to Paoliidae and consider Herbstialidae as a junior synonym of this family. The grylloblattid family Ideliidae is considered as a junior synonym of Paoliidae, transferring genera Stenaropodites, Aenigmidelia, Archidelia, Sojanidelia, Micaidelia, Acropermula and Mongoloidelia to this family. Kochopteron hoffmannorum and Protoblattina bouvieri are newly included in Paoliidae. Protoblattinopsis stubblefieldi is reinterpreted as a hind wing having highly specialized cubito-anal structures functionally analogous to the anal loop structure of the hind wing of the Mesozoic Isophlebioidea (Odonatoptera). We attribute Protoblattinopsis to Paoliida and consider Protoblattinidae as a junior synonym of Paoliidae. Furthermore, a new Paoliidae, Silesiapteron jarmilae gen. et sp. nov. is described from Upper Carboniferous sphaerosiderite concretion of Poland. http://zoobank.org/urn:lsid:zoobank.org:pub:296A17BD-2A84-4C1F-B19E-737DDFE7E17C

Structure of the ovaries and follicular epithelium morphogenesis in Drosophila and its kin

In insects, the ovarian follicular epithelium morphogenesis has been intensively studied and best characterized in the fruit fly, Drosophila melanogaster. It is well established that initially identical somatic follicular cells (FCs) form a simple epithelium overlying the germline cells, but during oogenesis, they diversify into a number of morphologically distinct subpopulations each responsible for creating specific eggshell structures. In addition, some FC subpopulations (e.g. polar cells) are indispensable in establishing antero-posterior and dorso-ventral ovarian follicle axes and patterning of the developing embryo. The morphological and molecular changes that occur during follicular epithelium morphogenesis in Drosophila are frequently considered as a paradigm of the FC diversification in all flies. However, recent comparative studies indicate that, in dipterans, the functioning of the ovarian follicles is diverse, group-specific and may significantly differ from the Drosophila model system. We discuss the similarities and differences of the ovary structure and follicular epithelium morphogenesis in different dipteran groups and put them into a phylognetic context. We suggest that the migratory activity of the FCs represents an evolutionary novelty that evolved in the ancestors of higher dipterans (Brachycera). Subsequently, during evolution of this subgroup, the number of migrating FC subpopulations has gradually increased from one (in Orthorrhapha) to four (in Cyclorrhapha).

Paoliida, a putative stem-group of winged insects: Morphology of new taxa from the Upper Carboniferous of Poland

New representatives of a stem group Paoliida attributed to family Paoliidae (Insecta: Protoptera) are described from the Upper Carboniferous (Langsettian) sphero-sideritic concretions of the Upper Silesian Coal Basin (USCB) in Poland. Zdenekia silesiensis sp. nov. is based on forewing venation and supplemented by material of isolated hindwing similar in venation pattern. Darekia sanguinea gen. et sp. nov. differs from all other paoliid genera by the presence of a short contact between veins MP and CuA behind the division CuA and CuP. Composition of insect fauna exhibits high abundance of paoliid insects in the early Late Carboniferous ecosystems known also from other European localities such as Hagen Vorhalle in Ruhr Basin (Germany), and South Limbourg (Belgium and the Netherlands). It is the first record of true paoliids from the Polish part of paralic USCB supplementing a single historical record of Stygne roemeri considered as a taxon closely related to Paoliidae. The high abundance of paoliid insects from sphero-sideritic concretions in Sosnowiec and coal deposits previously known from the Czech part of Upper Silesian Coal Basin indicates considerable similarity of both faunas supported as well by their close stratigraphical correlation. Morphology of basal wing parts with remnants of articular sclerites preserved supports neopteran relationships of paoliids. Discovery of the first paoliid immature wing is reported suggesting similar living habitat for larvae and adults.

The Earliest Record of Pylochelid Hermit Crabs from the Late Jurassic of Southern Poland, with Notes on Paguroid Carapace Terminology

Strata with cyanobacterial-sponge buildups of Middle to Late Oxfordian (Late Jurassic) age in the southern Polish Uplands document the earliest known members of the Pylochelidae. Two new Late Jurassic species of “symmetrical” hermit crabs, Ammopylocheles robertboreki and Jurapylocheles iwonae, are described. A new term, the massetic region, is introduced to describe the equivalent in paguroids of the hepatic region in brachyuran carapaces, because in the former, this region does not reflect the position of the liver but rather an attachment zone of the mandibular muscles.

REDESCRIPTION OF SIMULIDIUM PRISCUM WESTWOOD AND PSEUDOSIMULIUM HUMIDUM (BRODIE) (INSECTA: DIPTERA: RHAGIONIDAE) FROM THE PURBECK LIMESTONE GROUP (LOWER CRETACEOUS) OF ENGLAND

Synopsis The holotype of Simulidium priscum Westwood, 1854 has been rediscovered in the collections of The Natural History Museum, London. It is a single wing from the Lulworth Formation (Berriasian) of Durlston Bay, Dorset. S. priscum and Pseudosimulium humidum (Brodie 1845) from the Lulworth Formation of Wiltshire are redescribed and placed within the Rhagionidae.

Revision ofMesorhyphus Handlirsch,Eoplecia Handlirsch andHeterorhyphus Bode (Diptera: Anisopodomorpha, Bibionomorpha) from the upper liassic of Germany

KurzfassungDie Holotypen vonMesorhyphus nanus Handlirsch 1920,M. areolatus Handlirsch 1939,M. anomalus Handlirsch 1939,Eoplecia primitiva Handlirsch 1920,Heterorhyphus latus Bode 1953,H. analivarius Bode 1953 undProtorhyphus (?)ovisimilis Bode 1953 wurden nachuntersucht. Dabei stellte sich heraus, daß der Holotyp vonE. primitiva der Gegendruck vom Holotypus vonM. areolatus ist.M. areolatus ist ein jüngeres Synonym vonM. nanus. Mesorrhyphoid.es Rohdendorf 1962 ist ein jüngeres Synonym vonHeterorhyphus Bode 1953. Der Typus vonH. analivarius ist der Gegendruck vom Holotypus vonP. (?)ovisimilis und somit objektives Synonym dieser Art. Die GattungHeterorhyphus mit einer Art,H. anomalus (Handlirsch 1939) n. comb., ist valid.H. latus ist ein Synonym vonH. anomalus. Das Flügelgeäder vonHeterorhyphus unterscheidet sich deutlich von dem aller bekannten fossilen und rezenten Anisopodomorpha, so daß eine neue Familie Heterorhyphidae eingeführt wird, die den Bibionomorpha angehört.AbstractThe holotypes of the Lower Jurassic DipteraMesorhyphus nanus Handlirsch 1920,M. areolatus Handlirsch 1939,M. anomalus Handlirsch 1939,Eoplecia primitiva Handlirsch 1920,Heterorhyphus latus Bode 1953,H. analivarius Bode 1953 andProtorhyphus (?)ovisimilis Bode 1953 were re-examined. The holotype ofEoplecia primitiva is the counterpart ofMesorhyphus areolatus. M. areolatus is a junior synonym ofM. nanus. Mesorrhyphoides Rohdendorf 1962 is a synonym ofHeterorhyphus Bode 1953.Heterorhyphus analivarius is a synonym ofProtorhyphus (?)ovisimilis, being mistakenly described from the counterpart of the holotype of the latter. The genusHeterorhyphus is valid and comprises onlyH. anomalus (Handlirsch 1939) n. comb.;H. latus is a synonym of the latter species. As the wing venation ofHeterorhyphus is conspicuously different from all fossil and Recent Anisopodomorpha, it is placed into a new family, Heterorhyphidae, within the Bibionomorpha.

New Late Jurassic symmetrical hermit crabs from the southern Polish Uplands and early paguroid diversification

On the basis of carapaces, three new genera and species of symmetrical paguroid anomurans are described. Diogenicheles theodorae, Masticacheles longirostris, and Pilgrimcheles karolinae constitute the oldest known members of the family Parapylochelidae. As noted previously, assemblages from sponge-reefal strata of Oxfordian (Late Jurassic) age in the southern Polish Uplands document an important radiation event amongst paguroids. Compared to the present day, the Parapylochelidae were more diverse during the mid-Mesozoic; they appear to have withdrawn from shallow, reefal waters to deep-water settings from the Late Jurassic onwards. Paguroid faunas from the Oxfordian of Europe already are highly diverse, both morphologically and phylogenetically, and comprise early members of the families Diogenidae, Pylochelidae, and Parapylochelidae. This suggests that the evolutionary history of paguroids started much earlier (i.e., in pre-Jurassic times) than previously assumed. New terms for several typical paguroid carapace regions are introduced and on the basis of carapace morphology and ecological shifts hypotheses on the early speciation of hermit crabs are put forward.

The oldest representative of Helius Lepeletier & Serville 1828 (Diptera: Limoniidae) from Lebanese amber (Early Cretaceous)

Helius lebanensis sp.n., the oldest representative of the genus Helius Lepeletier & Serville 1828 (Diptera: Limoniidae), from Lebanese amber (Early Cretaceous) is characterized, illustrated and described. A hypothesis of origin and evolution of the genus Helius with association with the Angiosperms is provided and discussed. A complete list of fossil limoniids belonging to Helius is given.

Fossil Limoniidae (Diptera, Tipulomorpha) from lower cretaceous Burmese amber of Myanmar

Synopsis Two new species of the family Limoniidae, Dicranoptycha fragmentata sp. nov. and Rhabdomastix (Palaeogonomyia) jarzembowskii sp. nov. from Burmese amber are described. Both genera were previously known only from Tertiary deposits and their discovery in the Late Albian Burmese amber of Myanmar extends their stratigraphic range significantly.

New and little known Ptychopteridae (Diptera) from the Palaearctic Region

Ptychoptera agnes sp.n. from Hungary and P. alina sp. n. from Armenia are described and illustrated. Available descriptions of P. japonica Alexander, 1913 (Japan), P. daimio Alexander, 1921 (Japan), P. bellula Alexander, 1937 (China) are supplemented by descriptions and illustrations of male genitalia. Examination of types and additional material from Sachalin and Japan revealed synonymy between P. subscutellaris Alexander, 1921 (Japan) and P. yankovskiana Alexander, 1945 (Korea). The affinities of P. subscutellaris and its close European relatives (the group of P. minuta Tonnoir, 1919) are discussed. The female holotype of the distinctively coloured P. clitellaria Alexander, 1935 (China) lacks the abdomen and remains incompletely known. Faunistical data on P. lacustris Meigen, 1830, P. albimana (Fabricius, 1787), P. minuta Tonnoir, 1919, P. scutellaris Meigen, 1818, P. hugoi Tjeder, 1968, and P. contaminata (L., 1758) are also added, extending known ranges of these species considerably.