Xavier Martínez-Delclòs

Taphonomy of insects in carbonates and amber

Abstract The major taphonomic processes that control insect preservation in carbonate rocks (limestones, travertines and nodules) are biological: insect size and wingspan, degree of decomposition, presence of microbial mats, predation and scavenging; environmental: water surface tension, water temperature, density and salinity, current activity; and diagenetic: authigenic mineralisation, flattening, deformation, carbonisation. The major taphonomic processes that control the preservation of insects in fossil resins (amber and copal) are different, but can be considered under the same headings – biological: presence of resin producers, size and behaviour of insects; environmental: latitude, climate, seasonality, resin viscosity, effects of storms and fires, soil composition; and diagenetic: resin composition, insect dehydration, pressure, carbonisation, thermal maturation, reworking, oxidation. These taphonomic processes are geographically and temporally restricted, and generate biases in the fossil record. Nevertheless, where insects occur they may be abundant and very diverse. Taphonomic processes may impact on phylogenetic and palaeobiogeographic studies, in determining the timing of the origin and extinction of insect groups, and in identifying radiations and major extinctions. Taphonomic studies are an essential prerequisite to the reconstruction of fossil insect assemblages, to interpreting the sedimentary and environmental conditions where insects lived and died, and to the investigation of interactions between insects and other organisms.

A NEW FOSSIL RESIN WITH BIOLOGICAL INCLUSIONS IN LOWER CRETACEOUS DEPOSITS FROM ÁLAVA (NORTHERN SPAIN, BASQUE-CANTABRIAN BASIN)

Abstract The occurrence of amber in Sierra de Cantabria (Álava, Basque Country) has been known for more than two decades but biological inclusions have only recently been found. The existence of crustaceans (amphipods and isopods), chelicerates (acari and arachnids), 12 orders of insects, and several bird feathers are reported in this preliminary study. In addition, there are leaf remains, molluscs, and a fair number of inorganic inclusions. Pollen analysis of the clastic series indicates an age between upper Aptian—middle Albian, which allows an assignment of this stratigraphic unit to the Nograro Formation. Chemical analysis indicates that the amber has high maturity, which reflects its Cretaceous age. Chemical composition analysis also indicates an araucariacean origin, which is corroborated by pollen found within the amber deposit. This new fossil site provides information for the reconstruction of paleocommunities of arthropods and sedimentary environments in the extreme south of the Basque-Cantabrian Basin during the Lower Cretaceous, characterized by coniferous forests with an understory of vascular cryptograms. Some of the identified arthropods add to the fossil record for various groups that are poorly known or unknown for this time period. This Lagerstätte constitutes one of the most important deposits of Mesozoic amber in the world.

An Early Cretaceous faunal and floral continental assemblage: Las Hoyas fossil site (Cuenca, Spain)

Abstract The fossiliferous beds of Las Hoyas (province ofCuenca, Spain) are composed of limestones (probably Late Hauterivian). The main fossiliferous facies consists of laminated limestone from a lake-basin plain with bottom waters perennially anoxic. The floral and faunal assemblage is similar to that of Montsech (prov. of Lerida, Spain), with divergences especially in the insects and some tetrapods. Bottom-dwelling invertebrates are scarce. Most of invertebrates are arthropods: three crustaceans and a relatively diversified entomofauna. The fishes are the main component of the vertebrate fauna both in number of individuals and diversity (13 different taxa). Among tetrapods the most abundant is a new genus of Caudata. Reptiles are represented by a chelonian, a little lizard and an atoposaurid crocodile. Finally, a new bird is reported from Las Hoyas, with an intermediate phylogenetic position between Archaeopteryx and Ornithurae.

Phylogeny and classification of the Stenophlebioptera (Odonata: Epiproctophora)

Abstract The Juraheterophlebiidae, new family of the “heterophlebioid” lineage, the Henrotayiidae, new family of the “anisopteroid” lineage, the Prostenophlebiidae and the Liassostenophlebiidae, new families of the Stenophlebioptera, and three new genera and species of the Stenophlebiidae are described from the Mesozoic of Germany, Spain, England, Kazakhstan, and Mongolia. The phylogenetic positions of the families Erichschmidiidae and Gondvanogomphidae are discussed. A tentative phylogenetic analysis of the Anisopteromorpha is proposed. This significantly extends our knowledge on the palaeogeographical distribution of the Stenophlebioptera and the Epiproctophora (“dragondamselflies”).

A Review of the Eurasian fossil species of the bee Apis

Fossil Apis species from the Oligocene, Miocene and Plio-Pleistocene of Eurasia are described and their relationships with Recent species are discussed. Several new populations of fossil bees are reported from the Oligocene and Miocene of France and Spain, including Apis aquisextusensis sp. nov. The present state of knowledge of fossil bee systematics is poor because of the general lack of preserved characters. Some of the problems, and items requiring further investigation, are identified.

Revision and phylogenetic affinities of the Jurassic Steleopteridae Handlirsch, 1906 (Odonata: Zygoptera)

The Jurassic odonate family Steleopteridae is revised. Two new genera and species Parasteleopteron guischardi and Euparasteleopteron viohli are described. The phylogenetic affinities of this group are discussed. The Steleopteridae are excluded from the Epiproctophora and transferred into the Zygoptera (stemgroup). Euphaeopsis multinervis is redescribed and transferred to Epiproctophora: Isophlebioidea, and the genus Pseudoeuphaea with its four species is considered as a nomen dubium in Odonata incertae sedis.

New mesozoic protomyrmeleontidae (Insecta: Odonatoptera: Archizygoptera) from Asia with a new phylogenetic analysis

Synopsis The following damselfly‐like protomyrmeleontid Odonatoptera are described from the Mesozoic of Eurasia: Ferganagrion kirghiziensis gen. et sp. nov., Paraobotritagrion gen. nov. for Paraobotritagrion tenuiformis (Zessin, 1991), Mongolagrion shartegensis gen. et sp. nov., Protomyrmeleon pumilio sp. nov., Protomyrmeleon kazakhstanensis sp. nov., Protomyrmeleon karatauensis sp. nov., Protomyrmeleon grandis sp. nov. The wing venations of protomyrmeleontid genera are homologised and the high morphological disparity in this family suggests that the Protomyrmeleontidae had very different modes of flight and consequently occupied a wide range of palaeoenvironments. A new phylogenetic analysis suggests that the fossil record is too scarce and incomplete to solve the phylogeny of the Protomyrmeleontidae. In particular, the current division of Protomyrmeleontidae in Triassagrioninae and Protomyrmeleontinae is only weakly supported.

Preliminary phylogenetic analysis of the Protanisoptera (Insecta: Odonatoptera)

Abstract The Permian suborder Protanisoptera (Insecta: Odonatoptera) is revised and a new phylogenetic hypothesis proposed after analyses based on wing venation and different outgroups. After our study the families Camptotaxineuridae and Kaltanoneuridae are excluded from the Protanisoptera. After a new phylogenetic analysis, the family Permaeschnidae is redefined and the families Pholidoptilidae, Polytaxineuridae, Callimokaltaniidae and Hemizygopteridae are restored, as already proposed for the latter three families by Bechly (1996). The new genus Proditaxineura is described. The genus Gondvanoptilon ROSLER et al., 1981 is excluded from the Meganisoptera: Erasipteridae and re-included in the Permaeschnidae, as already proposed by Bechly (1998). Permaeschna proxima MARTYNOV, 1931 is considered as a junior synonym of Permaeschna dolloi MARTYNOV, 1931. Pholidoptilon camense ZALESSKY, 1931 is excluded from Permaeschna MARTYNOV, 1931 and the genus Pholidoptilon Zalessky, 1931a , Zalessky, 1931b is restored. Ditaxineurella stigmalis MARTYNOV, 1940 is excluded from the Hemizygopteridae and considered as a Protanisoptera Incertae sedis.

Two new fungus gnats (Insecta, Diptera, Mycetophilidae) from the Lower Cretaceous of Spain

Two new species of Diptera Mycetophilidae are described based on two imagos found in the Lower Cretaceous La Cabrua fossil-site (Montsec Range, Lleida Province, Spain). One belongs to the genus Palaeodocosia described from Baltic amber and known from Recent Fauna, and the other, to a recent genus Synapha. Palaeodocosia cabruae sp. nov. and Synapha rubiesensis sp. nov. are the first described and named dipteran adult specimens from the Mesozoic compression fossil-sites of Spain.

A new genus and species of Aeschnidiidae (Insecta: Odonata: Anisoptera) from the Solnhofen Limestone, Upper Jurassic, Germany

Bergeriaeschnidia inexpectata n. g., n. sp. is described from the Upper Jurassic of S.W. Germany and compared with the known fossil Aeschnidiidae. The diversity of this family was a very important feature of insect evolution during the Upper Jurassic and Lower Cretaceous.KurzfassungBergeriaeschnidia inexpectata n. g., n. sp. wird beschrieben und mit anderen bekannten fossilen Aeschnidiidae-Arten verglichen. Eine hohe Diversität ist sehr bezeichnend für die Familie Aeschnidiidae während des Oberjuras und der Unteren Kreide.RésuméBergeriaeschnidia inexpectata n. g., n. sp. est décrit du Jurassique supérieur de la Bavière et comparé avec les Aeschnidiidae connus. La diversité de cette famille a été très importante durant le Jurassique supérieur et le Crétacé inférieur.