Iwona Kania

The paper describes a new species to science, Palaeopoecilostola hoffeinsorum Kania-Kłosok and Krzemiński sp. nov. (Diptera: Tipulomorpha), from Eocene Baltic amber. The genus Palaeopoecilostola occupies a unique position within the family Limoniidae. This is a small group of insects, represented in the fossil record by only five species to date. Given the limited number of known species within the genus Palaeopoecilostola, the discovery of a new species belonging to this genus is highly significant. It contributes to a better understanding of the morphology, taxonomy, and evolution of the Limoniidae. Although species within this genus are characterized by considerable variability in wing venation morphology, distinct differences are observed in the structure of the antenna and hypopygium. These and other morphological features are discussed in this paper. Detailed morphological analyses, including of the wing venation and hypopygium are provided. The diversity of species within the genus and its most important evolutionary trends are also discussed in an attempt to explain the short duration of the genus Palaeopoecilostola.

This paper describes three new species belonging to the genus Styringomyia, based on specimens preserved in Early Miocene (Burdigalian) Dominican amber: Styringomyia caridadi sp. nov., S. caribeana sp. nov., and S. grimaldii sp. nov. Previously, only five extinct species of Styringomyia were known, including two from Dominican amber. These new discoveries increase the total number of species known from fossils to eight. The genus Styringomyia is morphologically intriguing, characterized by the highly complex structure of the male and female terminalia, particularly the morphology of the gonostyles. The hypopygial features of the five Dominican amber species resemble those of certain extant Styringomyia species found in Australia. These findings contribute to our broader understanding of cranefly diversity and significantly enhance our knowledge of Miocene Styringomyia and this stage of evolution of the genus. Notably, despite the abundance of Styringomyia fossils in Dominican amber, the genus is not known to inhabit the island of Hispaniola today.

A genus Silanowicki gen. nov. with a single species Silanowicki burmiticus gen. et sp. nov. new to science is described in this paper on the basis of inclusions in Cretaceous Burmese amber. The paper presents rare fossil record of crane flies, which gives further evidence of the great diversity of Chioneinae in ancient epochs of Earth's history. Chioneinae is a species-diverse group of crane flies that is also abundantly represented in the fossil record since the Early Cretaceous. The paper presents description and graphic documentation of this genus. This new discovery is very significant, and the research results represent another step towards deepening our knowledge of the evolution of this group of insects.

The wide range of fossil insect sites in Poland is of significant importance in understanding the evolution of the inland European faunas. Poland has been the site of many such discoveries, including the Early Jurassic Odrowąż, where specimens have been found with complete bodies and wings, the Late Jurassic Owadów-Brzezinki, and the Triassic Pałęgi clay-pit, which contains fossilised insects. This paper presents a short review of insect fossil sites in Polish sediments, with location maps. The table provides detailed information about these sites, taking into account the taxonomic affiliation of the specimens and their age.

Annales Zoologici, published by the Museum and Institute of Zoology at the Polish Academy of Sciences, is devoted to all aspects of systematic entomology.

This paper describes three new species found as inclusions in Early Eocene amber from Oise (northern France). Two of these species belong to the genus Cheilotrichia: Cheilotrichia oisensis Kopeć, Krzemiński & Kania-Kłosok sp. nov, Cheilotrichia gallica Kopeć, Krzemiński & Kania-Kłosok sp. nov., while one represents the genus Dicranomyia : Dicranomyia (Dicranomyia) podenasi Kopeć, Krzemiński & Kania-Kłosok sp. nov. This marks the first discovery of Limoniidae representatives in Oise amber, the oldest known Eocene resin, dating back approximately 55–53 Ma (Early Eocene, Ypresian). Our analysis indicates that the species composition of Limoniidae (Diptera, Nematocera) in Oise amber differs from that in Baltic amber. Despite their similar geographical origins, these ambers were produced in different periods and by different trees. The study of Oise amber provides valuable insights into the fauna of the earliest Eocene. These new discoveries contribute to our understanding of the evolutionary history of Limoniidae, particularly during the Early Eocene.

A new subgenus of Ellipteroides—Jantares subgen. nov.—is reported from Eocene Baltic amber with one new species Ellipteroides (Jantares) hansi sp. nov. This new subgenus is easily distinguishable from the other subgenera by a male terminalia with interbases very long, a simplified gonostylus, wing venation by the combination of a closed discal cell and m-cu placed at Mb. After numerous comparisons of the morphological characteristics of subgenera of the genus Ellipteroides, we defined this species in a new subgenus. The newly described species herein is the second evidence on the occurrence of Ellipteroides in the fossil record. The new discovery adds to the knowledge of the crane flies’ history evolution, especially its Eocene stage and new view on phylogeny within the genus Ellipteroides. A phylogenetic analysis was carried out and we propose a new classification within the genus Ellipteroides. This system adds a new subgenera E. (Afroellipteroides) subgen. nov., E. (Iberiopteroides) subgen. nov., E. (Photogonomyia) subgen. nov., and new combinations intendent to correct morphological inconsistencies in the current taxonomy of the group. The results of the analysis are important for understanding phylogenetic relationships within the genus, but also for determining the model of various stages of evolution of Limoniidae using the fossil records of the family.

Among the insects with wings clad in scales, the butterflies are the best known and those showing greatest variety of scale types. In the Diptera, some families or particular genera of two large groups are known to bear scales on wings, i.e., mosquitoes (Culicomorpha) and moth flies (Psychodomorpha). From among another large dipteran group, the crane-flies (Tipulomorpha), scales are present on wings only in one small genus, Maietta Alexander, now endemic to the southwestern coast of South America. Here, we describe an Eocene ancestor of Maietta, embedded in Baltic amber, Maietta hoffeinsetta, n. sp. This species and its recent congeners document evolution of scale cover from sparse and scarce, restricted only to anterior portion of wing, to complete and dense. A similar parallel evolutionary route was previously described in the Culicidae. The fossil representative of Maietta provides also a further example of biogeographical relationships of Baltic fauna with recent congeners distributed today far from Europe. The present finding prompts a discussion on a possible role of scales in adaptation to post Eocene cooling down of climate.

We present here the first-ever fossil flies from the family Deuterophlebiidae. The recent adults have an exceptionally brief lifespan, with males surviving only two hours. Their distinctive features include a complete reduction of mouthparts, and wing venation characterized by a dense net of false veins replacing most of true veins. Due to this distinctive venation the phylogenetic position of Deuterophlebiidae was unclear, compounded by the absence of fossils that could shed light on the early development of these characters. Two new genera and species are described from Burmese amber, Protodeuterophlebia oosterbroeki Krzemiński, Krzemińska & Soszyńska, gen. et sp. nov. and Cretodeuterophlebia courtneyi, Krzemiński, Skibińska & Kopeć, gen. et sp. nov. They date back the age of the family to the mid-Cretaceous. Notably, the fossils reveal first false veins and reduced mouthparts, suggesting a short lifespan in these Cretaceous mountain midges. A comparative analysis of wing venation indicated the Hennigmatidae as a plausible ancestral group to the Deuterophlebiidae. A syninclusion of mayfly indicates the coexistence of these short-lived insects during the same flight period. This synchrony extends to their brief time in flight aligning with the flow of fluid resin. The occurrence of these simultaneous events is extremely low, emphasizing the significance of these findings.