Palaeoentomology

Three new basal species of Odonatoptera from the upper Serpukhovian (325-324 Ma) of Guandacol 1 locality, Quebrada de las Libélulas, Guandacol Formation, La Rioja province, central West Argentina, are described. Two known species also from the Serpukhovian, Eugeropteron lunatum Riek, 1983 and Geropteron arcuatum Riek, 1983, from Cuestita de La Herradura, Malanzán Formation, La Rioja province, are discussed. Several higher taxa are nominated to include these species, resulting in a new classification: 1 Superorder Odonatoptera, 1.1 Eugeroptera ord. nov., 1.1.1 Eugeropteridae, 1.1.1.1 Eugeropteron, 1.1.1.1.1 Eugeropteron lunatum, 1.1.1.1.2 Tupacsala niunamenos gen. nov. et sp. nov., 1.2 Palaeodonatoptera taxon nov., 1.2.1 Kukaloptera ord. nov., 1.2.1.1 Kirchneralidae fam. nov., 1.2.1.1.1 Kirchnerala treintamil gen. nov. et sp. nov., 1.2.2 Plesiodonatoptera taxon nov., 1.2.2.1 Argentinoptera ord. nov., 1.2.2.1.1 Argentinalidae fam. nov., 1.2.2.1.1.1 Argentinala cristinae gen. nov. et sp. nov., 1.2.2.2 Apodonatoptera taxon nov., 1.2.2.2.1 Order Geroptera, 1.2.2.2.1.1 Geropteridae fam. nov., 1.2.2.2.1.1.1 Geropteron, 1.2.2.2.1.1.1.1 Geropteron arcuatum, 1.2.2.2.2 Neodonatoptera.

Posted with the kind permission of the Supreme Council of Antiquities of Egypt (SCA) © SCA, Cairo, 2010

The number of hieroglyphs depicting insects is extremely poor and the same is true of the vocabulary naming them. This gives a good opportunity to confront insect names and their images as hieroglyphs. This study aims at a better identification of some of them, at eliminating some long standing confusions between different insects, between some insects and some birds. It gives all its importance to hieroglyphs as they appear on monuments to stress how much typed or hand-written hieroglyphs are different from originals and how our permanent practice of these last prevents us from a scientific study of the hieroglyphic writing itself. This study of individual hieroglyphs, considered as plain “beings” having a history, a genealogy, called grammatology, should not only be a companion to lexicographical investigations, but also a discipline in itself which will permit a better undersanding of the Egyptian writing and of the Egyptian mind.

Originally published in 1991 (Buckland & Coope, 1991), this is the most comprehensive bibliography of articles and books on Quaternary fossil insects and their use in palaeoclimatology, palaeoecology and environmental archaeology available on the planet. Updates are periodically posted here, at www.bugscep.com, and on other open resources.

Knowledge of biodiversity in the past, and the timing, nature, and drivers of human-induced ecological change, is important for gaining deep time perspectives and for modern conservation efforts. The Marquesas Islands (Polynesia) are one of the world's most remote archipelagos and illustrate the vulnerability of indigenous bioscapes to anthropogenic activities. Characterised by high levels of endemism across many biotic groups, the full spectrum of the group's flora and fauna is nonetheless incompletely known. Several centuries of Polynesian settlement reshaped biotic communities in ways that are not yet fully understood, and historically-introduced mammalian herbivores have devastated the indigenous lowland flora. We report here on archaeological recovery of a diverse assemblage of plant and arthropod subfossils from a waterlogged deposit on the largest Marquesan island: Nuku Hiva. These materials offer new perspectives on the composition of lowland plant and arthropod communities pene-contemporaneous with human arrival. Bayesian analysis of multiple 14 C results from short-lived materials date the assemblages to the mid-12 th century AD (1129-1212 cal. AD, 95.4% HPD). Evidence for human activities in the catchment coincident with deposit formation includes Polynesian associated arthropods, microcharcoal, and an adzed timber. Plant macrofossils (seeds, fruits, vegetative structures) and microfossils (pollen, phytoliths) reveal coastal and lowland wet-moist forest communities unlike those observed today. Several apparently extinct taxa are identified, along with extant taxa currently constrained to high altitude and/or interior areas. A diverse inventory of subfossil arthropods-the first pre-18 th century records for the islands-includes more than 100 distinct taxa, with several new archipelago records and one previously unreported for eastern Polynesia. The assemblages provide new insights into lowland Marquesan forest communities coincident with human arrival, and portend the considerable anthropogenic transformations that followed. These records also have implications for human colonisation of the Marquesas Islands and East Polynesia at large.

Over the last 25 years, since the 1983 conference, a range of new evidence has emerged on the changing nature of the post-glacial insect fauna of Ireland. Modern entomological research, especially new surveys and re-evaluation of existing collections, is continually improving our understanding of the Irish fauna (e.g. . However, findings from palaeoentomological analyses, particularly sub-fossil beetle remains, from various locations throughout Ireland have been particularly illuminating in filling gaps in our knowledge (e.g. . This paper will attempt to evaluate these findings in order to address the following questions:

Bei den archäologischen Untersuchungen im slawischen Burgwall von Schwerin (Mecklenburg-Vorpommern) wurden umfangreiche Funde von Nashornkäfern (Oryctes nasicornis (LINNAEUS, 1758)) und Balkenschrötern (Dorcus parallelipipedus (LINNAEUS, 1758)) aus einer Bauphase des Walles von um 960-965 AD geborgen. Nashornkäfer liegen als Larven, Puppen und Adulte vor, wobei insbesondere die unverdrückten Chitinhüllen der Puppen in den verstärkten Puppenkammern außergewöhnlich gut erhalten sind. Auf mehreren Nashornkäferpuppen waren Raubmilben (Gamasina) nachzuweisen. Balkenschröter sind nur als geschlüpfte Adulte in Puppenkammern überliefert. Kokons der mediterranen Dolchwespe Megascolia maculata (DRURY, 1773), die im zeitgleichen Burgwall von Brandenburg vorkommen und Hinweise auf ein wärmeres Klima in der Mittelalterlichen Warmzeit sind, wurden in Schwerin nicht gefunden.

Knowledge of biodiversity in the past, and the timing, nature, and drivers of human-induced ecological change, is important for gaining deep time perspectives and for modern conservation efforts. The Marquesas Islands (Polynesia) are one of the world's most remote archipelagos and illustrate the vulnerability of indigenous bioscapes to anthropogenic activities. Characterised by high levels of endemism across many biotic groups, the full spectrum of the group's flora and fauna is nonetheless incompletely known. Several centuries of Polynesian settlement reshaped biotic communities in ways that are not yet fully understood, and historically-introduced mammalian herbivores have devastated the indigenous lowland flora. We report here on archaeological recovery of a diverse assemblage of plant and arthropod subfossils from a waterlogged deposit on the largest Marquesan island: Nuku Hiva. These materials offer new perspectives on the composition of lowland plant and arthropod communities pene-contemporaneous with human arrival. Bayesian analysis of multiple 14 C results from short-lived materials date the assemblages to the mid-12 th century AD (1129-1212 cal. AD, 95.4% HPD). Evidence for human activities in the catchment coincident with deposit formation includes Polynesian associated arthropods, microcharcoal, and an adzed timber. Plant macrofossils (seeds, fruits, vegetative structures) and microfossils (pollen, phytoliths) reveal coastal and lowland wet-moist forest communities unlike those observed today. Several apparently extinct taxa are identified, along with extant taxa currently constrained to high altitude and/or interior areas. A diverse inventory of subfossil arthropods-the first pre-18 th century records for the islands-includes more than 100 distinct taxa, with several new archipelago records and one previously unreported for eastern Polynesia. The assemblages provide new insights into lowland Marquesan forest communities coincident with human arrival, and portend the considerable anthropogenic transformations that followed. These records also have implications for human colonisation of the Marquesas Islands and East Polynesia at large.

Ein Flügelfragment aus Seeablagerungen der Meisen heim-Formation des Unteren Rotliegend (Autunium) bei Obermoschel ist der erste Nachweis von Riesen-Urlibellen für das Permokarbon des Saar-Nahe-Beckens. Mit einer Flügelspannweite von mindestens 60 Zentimetern war das Tier in etwa so groß wie Meganeura monyi aus dem Stefanium von Commentry in Frankreich und ist das derzeit größte in Deutschland nachgewiesene Insekt. Als einen wahrscheinlichen Faktor, der den Riesenwuchs dieser Stammgruppenvertreter der heutigen Libellen erst möglich machte, diskutieren wir den hohen Sauerstoffgehalt der Atmosphäre im Oberkarbon bis Mittelperm. Die Paläoumwelt des Obermoschel-Sees war durch größere Seen und Flussläufe geprägt und bot den großen Meganeuriden die offenen Flächen, die sie als agile Flugjäger bevorzugten.
Abstract First record of giant griffenflies (Odonatoptera: Meganisoptera: Meganeuridae) in the Permocarboniferous of the Saar-Nahe Basin (Rhineland-Palatinate, SW-Germany)
A wing fragment from lake deposits of the Meisenheim Formation (Lower Rotliegend, Autunian) near Obermoschel is the first record of giant griffenflies for the Permo-Carboniferous of the Saar-Nahe Basin. With a reconstructed wing span of at least 60 centimetres the animal was comparable in size to the iconic Meganeura monyi from the Stephanian of Commentry/France and is currently the largest known insect from Germany. The increased partial pressure of oxygen in the Upper Carboniferous to mid-Permian is discussed as a possible factor controlling the maximum size of griffenflies. The palaeoenvironment of Lake Obermoschel was characterized by large lakes and fluvial systems that provided the open spaces preferred by meganeurids, which were probably agile hawker predators.

Tous droits de traduction, de reproduction et d'adaptation réservés pour tous pays. Toute reproduction ou représentation intégrale ou partielle, par quelque procédé que ce soit (électronique, mécanique, photocopie, enregistrement, quelque système de stockage et de récupération d'information) des pages publiées dans le présent ouvrage faite sans autorisation écrite de l'éditeur, est interdite. Éditions des archives contemporaines 41, rue Barrault 75013 Paris (France) www.archivescontemporaines.com ISBN 9782813002419 9 782813 002419 Illustration de couverture : Tissu Kuba en fibres naturelles (appelé aussi shoowa, raphias / velours Kasaï), du Zaïre-Congo (Afrique). © photo J.-Ph. Brugal

The fossil record of scarab beetles (Coleoptera: Scarabaeoidea) is reviewed and its relevance for the reconstruction of the evolutionary history of the taxon is explored. After a discussion of the different kinds of preservation of scarab fossils, including preservation of color, the richest scarab deposits are identified. From the fossil record, the minimum age of Scarabaeoidea is determined as 152 myr. To develop an idea about the appearance of the first scarab, the ground-pattern of Scarabaeoidea is reconstructed for the first time on the basis of published phylogenetic analyses. Extinct scarabaeoid family-group taxa are described and discussed. Cretocomini and Cretoglaphyrini are upgraded to subfamily rank for reasons of consistency.

The first insect from the Lower Toarcian Posidonienschiefer (“Posidonia Shale”) of Holzmaden (Württemberg, SW Germany), a fore wing of Heterophlebia buckmani (BRODIE 1845)
(Odonata: “Anisozygoptera”), is described from the “Unterer Stein” (“Lower Stone”), a concretion-like carbonate layer. The holotypes of the Upper Liassic Heterophlebia dobbertinensis
HANDLIRSCH 1939, Heterophlebia gracilis HANDLIRSCH 1939, Systellothemis reticulata HANDLIRSCH 1939 from Dobbertin (Mecklenburg) and Heterophlebia proxima BODE 1905
from the Brunsvick area (Lower Saxony) are revised and considered younger synonyms of H. buckmani. Besides a collecting bias, the rarity of insects in the Posidonia Shale of Holzmaden probably results from a larger distance of the sedimentation area to the Vindelician mainland.

Le site archéologique de l’îlot des Palais (CeEt-30) est un des hauts lieux d’importance dans l’histoire de la Nouvelle-France. C’est ici que réside l’intendant, l’un des piliers du gouvernement royal en Nouvelle-France de ca. 1675 à 1760. Il a été l’objet de fouilles archéologiques depuis 1982 et a continué, jusqu’à la dernière fouille programmée de 2016, de fournir une panoplie de nouvelles informations sur les uses et coutumes des occupants du site. Un site archéologique d’une telle richesse est donc, à prime abord, un excellent lieu pour aborder la question de l’interaction entre l’Homme et son milieu. C’est donc l’objectif que s’est fixé l’auteure à l’origine de cette recherche. Cet objectif principal est décliné en deux problématiques  distinctes mais, malgré tout, complémentaires, à savoir considérer l’impact Européen sur le paysage du site et celui du paysage sur l’identité coloniale.

Pour ce faire, la paléoentomologie et l’archéoentomologie, soit l’étude des insectes subfossiles, ont été mises à contribution. Plus de 9 850 individus appartenant à plus de 250 taxons de coléoptères ont permis de reconstituer le paysage associé à dix périodes d’occupation subséquentes précédant l’établissement sur le site (ca. 800 à ca. 1662) et lui faisant suite (ca. 1666 à 1713). Également, il a été possible de retracer les changements au paysage du site pendant ces périodes.

L’étude a permis d’aborder divers aspects de l’impact européen sur le paysage du site, à savoir la modification de la biodiversité entomologique, la déforestation, la disparition des milieux humides, la biogéographie des coléoptères ainsi que la gestion du territoire. Il n’a toutefois pas été possible de concrètement aborder l’impact du paysage sur la canadianisation.

Les résultats obtenus ici ouvrent la voie aux recherches futures et leur offrent diverses problématiques. Les deux principales sont l’exploration plus approfondie des effets du tremblement de terre de 1663 sur les sites archéologiques du sud-est du Québec et les tentatives infructueuses d’implantation d’insectes adventices.

Insect remains occur in the Lias nodules of the Ahrensburg geschiebe assemblage first of all in elegantulum nodules and in lesser respect in siemensi nodules. Most common are isolated
beetle elytra, which were washed to the sea by rivers draining Fennoscandia to the South. Heterothemis brodiei (BUCKMAN,1843) comb. nov. [Odonata: Liassagomphidae) and Blattula langfeldti (GEINITZ, 1880) VRSANSKY & ANSORGE comb. nov. [Blattodea: Blattulidae) as well as the largest known Liassic beetle are described. One limoniidae and protogryllidae wing were recorded too. Not far transported Liassic nodules are locally enriched in an area south of Franzburg (district Nordvorpommem) and in the gravel pit of Groß Roge (district Güstrow).

Prosepididontus calopteryx HANDLIRSCH 1920, from the upper Lower Jurassic of Germ a ny, is transferred from Trichoptera to Grylloblattida: Geinitziidae. The anal loop like structure of P rosepididontus calopteryx is built of the concave CuP and two anal veins. Prosepididontidae HANDLIRSCH, 1920 is synonymised under Geinitziidae HANDLIRSCH, 1906.

The fossil woodwasp Cratoenigma articulata gen. et sp.n. (Insecta: Hymenoptera) is described from the Lower Cretaceous Crato formation of Brazil. This fossil cannot be placed in any existing superfamily, but its putative phylogenetic position within Hymenoptera is discussed in detail on the basis of relevant thoracic, abdominal and wing venation characters. These characters are critically evaluated and compared with those of extant and fossil Hymenoptera. The phylogenetic position of C. articulata sp.n. is investigated relative to extant Xyelidae, Tenthredinoidea s.l., Pamphilioidea, Cephidae, Siricoidea, Xiphydriidae, Orussidae and Apocrita, and also to Mesozoic Gigasiricidae, Myrmiciidae, Daohugoidae, Sepulcidae, Anaxyelidae, Paroryssidae and Ephialtitidae. Based on the presence of a synapomorphic transscutal articulation, a plesiomorphic unconcealed mesopostnotum and autapomorphic hindwing venation (cu-a distinctly basal to fork between M and Cu), C. articulata sp.n. most likely forms the sister group of Xiphydriidae + Euhymenoptera. This would place it well within Unicalcarida, i.e. the clade in which the transition from endophytic to parasitoid lifestyle evolved.

Wasted tan bark was used  around 1385 AD in large quantities as filling material on the new built vaults of the town hall in  Stralsund, NE Germany. In a multidisciplinary study the archaeological, archaeobotanical and zoological results are discussed.

In addition to the Baltic amber, insects occur in some fine grained sedimentary erratic boulders. Insects occur frequently in carbonate concretions of lower Toarcian age in the glacially dislocated c1ay deposits of Dobbertin and Grimmen and in the "Ahrensburger Geschiebesippe". In cementstones of the Mo-c1ay deposits (Upper Paleocene/Lower Eocene) of the Limfjord area (Denmark) insects are the most common fossils. Insects also occur in cementstone boulders of the "Fehmarn" and "Greifswalder Oie" - types. Insects in the sphaerosideritic nodules of Havighorst near Hamburg are of the same age. Unique are records of insects in a sphaerosideritic erratic boulder from Dwasieden (Rügen), in a probably Lower Cretaceous erratic boulder from the Main Munsterland gravel deposit (Westphalia), in a Tertiary sphaerosideritic erratic boulder from Königsstuhl (Rügen) and in a Middle Oligocene nodule of the Stettiner Kugel type.

Two new species of snakefly (Insecta: Raphidioptera, Mesoraphidiidae) are described from the Weald Clay of the Wealden Supergroup, southern England and the Lithographic Limestone of Montsec, Spain. Proraphidia hopkinsi sp. nov. is the first species of snakefly to be described from the Wealden and P. gomezi sp. nov. is the first snakefly to be formally described from Montsec. These species extend the range of the genus Proraphidia across the Jurassic/Cretaceous boundary and its geographical range from Kazakhstan to England and Spain. A review of the snakefly families and genera involved in the Jurassic/Cretaceous transition is given. KEY WORDS: Wealden Supergroup. Montsec. Early Cretaceous. southern England. Jurassic/Cretaceous transition. new species.

The Wealden Group of southern England is a succession of non-marine sediments from the lower Cretaceous (c. 141-119 Ma), which also outcrop in Belgium and northwest Germany. Most insect orders are present as fossils, including Neuroptera, one of the most basal holometabolous orders. The fossil record of Neuroptera is diverse, spanning Permian-Recent, with all major family radiations having occurred prior to the Wealden. However, Wealden Neuroptera have received little attention to date, with only three families reported and one species described. The fossil record in general is notoriously incomplete, and palaeoenvironmental reconstructions can facilitate predictions of what other organisms were present in the habitat, but which were either not preserved or only occasionally preserved and yet to be found as fossils. We examine the Wealden palaeohabitat and global neuropteran palaeodiversity and consider these in relation to palaeo/biogeography of fossil and extant taxa (including habitat preferences). We predict that the following families will form components of the Cretaceous Wealden fauna: Nymphidae, Polystoechotidae, Chrysopidae, Hemerobiidae and Coniopterygidae.

During the last “International Congress on Fossil Insects, Arthropods and Amber” held this year in the Dominican Republic, we unanimously agreed—in the International Palaeoentomological Society (IPS)—to honor our great colleagues who have given us and the science (and still) significant knowledge on the evolution of fossil insects and terrestrial arthropods over the years. Sure there have been some efforts before in this purpose, undertaken mainly by our esteemed Russian colleagues, and where several of our members in the IPS contributed in edited volumes honoring some of our great scientists.

A catalogue and bibliography of fossil Scarabaeoidea (Lamellicornia) updated to November 2007 is presented. Of 264 described fossil species, 9 currently are considered as belonging to other taxa and 31 are doubtful due to a limited set of preserved characters. 224 fossil species and 13 ichnospecies probably or reliably belong to the Scarabaeoidea.

Fossil insects from the Lower Cretaceous (Aptian) Crato Formation of north-east Brazil are preserved as goethite replacements in laminated limestones of lacustro-lagoonal origin. They display remarkable degrees of morphological detail down to the macromolecular level in some examples. We document the fidelity of preservation and reveal an astonishing variety of morphological detail comparable in some instances with that found in amber inclusions.

Prehistoric field systems sometimes encompass excavated, pit-like features which are difficult to classify due to the complex stratigraphies resulting from reuse, infilling and collapse. They are frequently classified as wells and watering holes, but other potential uses for excavated depressions are rarely cited. We argue the need for environmental archaeology in the interpretation of features of this nature, and present the case study of Pode Hole, where fossil insect material clearly contradicts the archaeological interpretation. We present empirical evidence for a sealed context filled with dung which cannot be interpreted as a water source. This evidence strongly contrasts with other superficially similar features at the site.

Three new genera and four new species of the extinct mantidfly subfamily Mesomantispinae (Insecta: Neuroptera: Mantispidae) are described from the Lower Cretaceous Yixian Formation of Liaoning and the Middle Jurassic Jiulongshan Formation of Inner Mongolia: Archaeodrepanicus nuddsi gen. et sp. nov., A. acutus gen. et sp. nov., Sinomesomantispa microdentata gen. et sp. nov., (Yixian Formation) and Clavifemora rotundata gen. et sp. nov. (Jiulongshan Formation). The specimens described herein represent the first Mesozoic mantidfly compression fossils to have body parts preserved, including the specialized raptorial forelegs articulated to the prothorax anteriorly, an autapomorphy of the family. These new taxa further confirm the placement of the subfamily Mesomantispinae within the family Mantispidae; however, the monophyly of Mesomantispinae has not been confirmed, and it is likely that it will prove to be paraphyletic.

A hangingfly (Mecoptera, Bittacidae) is described from bituminous shales of the late Oligocene crater-lake of Enspel, Germany. It is attributed to a new species, Eremobittacus opeth sp. nov., and constitutes the first post-Eocene record of fossil hangingflies from Germany. The genus Eremobittacus was hitherto exclusively known from Mexico. Its presence in the Oligocene of Germany is a further case of insect dispersion between North America and Europe, via the Beringian, the Thulean, or the De Geer routes during the Paleogene.

A high-resolution, continuous 10,500 cal. yrs-long macroscopic charcoal record from a peat and lake sediment deposit at Storasjö, in the hemiboreal vegetation zone of southern Sweden, is presented. This record was compared with the microscopic charcoal record from the same core, and tentatively correlated with the macroscopic and microscopic charcoal records from another site (Stavsåkra), situated 30 km West of Storasjö. The charcoal records are also compared with regional climate proxy records with the aim to separate climatefrom human-induced fire activity. The results suggest that the major signal of both microscopic and macroscopic charcoal records represents local fire history. The best record of local fire history was obtained from the continuous macroscopic charcoal analysis. A tentative correlation of the charcoal records between the sites indicates that most fire episodes of the early and middle Holocene are probably of regional character. Both sites exhibit three major phases of high fire activity 1) 8700-8300 BC, 2) 7250 BC to ca. 4000 BC, and 3) 750 BC to the 19th century. These three phases are separated by periods with lower or very low fire activity. This general trend is in good agreement with the pattern emerging for Europe from the analysis of the recently developed global charcoal database. Fire appears to have been controlled by climate during the early and middle Holocene and by humans during the late Holocene. Warmer and drier climate during the early and middle Holocene caused frequent and intensive fires, which suggests that natural fire activity might increase under predicted future climate scenarios. The results also suggest that fire was an important disturbance factor in the hemiboreal vegetation zone of Sweden and played an important role in the forest dynamics and characteristics of the flora and fauna of the region.

A new species and genus (Palaeospinosus hudae n. gen., n. sp.,) representing the earliest polyneopteran insect order Zoraptera is reported and described.  This new species is the first from The Middle East and it is by far the oldest zorapteran discovered setting back the geological record of the order by as much as at least 30-35 million years.  This newly discovered insect is remarkably well preserved and it is unique in several characters, which warrants it placement in a new genus.  The presence of Zoraptera in the 135 Million year old amber of the Zarqa River strongly suggests a Jurassic and possibly a Triassic distribution of the order.

Palatinarkema prokopi gen. et sp. nov., the third German representative of the late Carboniferous-early Permian archaeo rthopteran clade Cnemidolestidae is described and figured. It is compared to the other known genera. We discuss putative aspects of the paleoecology of these stick-insect-like "orthopteroids", based on their body and leg structures, plus the presence of a high disparity of color patterns in their forewings, suggesting an important diversity of biology and habitats for these insects. Their elongate bodies and legs show some similarities with the extant but distantly related stick insects. Cnemidolestids possibly expressed cryptic behaviours among the vegetation, using disruptive colors but also ovale eye-like spots, as in the extant insects.

The ensign wasp genus Hyptia Illiger was previously known from 52 extant New World species and one fossil species from Lower Miocene to Upper Oligocene Mexican amber. Hyptia hennigi sp. nov., from Eocene Baltic amber, is the oldest known species and the first member of the genus from the Old World.

Arevision of the "Trichoptera" described by GEINITZ and HANDLIRSCH from the Upper Liassic of Dobbertin revealed that Prosepididontus calopteryx HANDLIRSCH, 1920 is a grylloblattodean (Grylloblattida: Geinitziidae) and Metatrichopteridium confusum HANDLIRSCH, 1939 a dipteran (Diptera: Hennigmatidae). The genus Necrotaulius HANDLIRSCH, 1906 now contains only one species [N. parvulus (GEINITZ, 1884) with eight' synonymized species]. Necrotaulius intermedius HANDLIRSCH, 1906 (with six synonymized species) is transferred to Mesotrichopteridium HANDLIRSCH, 1906. Necrotaulius and Mesotrichopteridium are regarded as
stern group members of * Amphiesmenoptera. Liadotaulius maior (HANDLIRSCH, 1906) is a genuine trichopteran
with a plesiomorphic set of venation characters which hinders a familial placement. The male wings of Liadotaulius, comparable with Oncovena NOVOKSHONOV & SUKACHEVA, 1995, have an autapomorphic corema formed by the distal fusion of R1 and Re which was adapted to be a scent container. The following
genera of Necrotauliidae belong to Lepidoptera: Pseudorthophlebia, Nannotrichopteron, Pararchitaulius, Parataulius, Archiptilia, Palaeotaulius, Metarchitaulius, Epididontus. Hindwings of Paratrichopteridium belong either to
Liadotaulius or Lepidoptera. The systematic position of five species remains obscure.

Fossils of dragonflies (Odonata: Anisoptera), three larvae and one isolated hind wing, are described from the late Oligocene crater lake of Enspel (Westerwald, Germany). The larvae are interpreted to belong to one species, although representing three different ontogenetic stages. Comparison to extant taxa shows that the larvae are to be assigned to the clubtails (Gomphidae), namely to the genera Gomphidia or Ictinogomphus, or, more unlikely, Diastatomma in the subfamily Lindeniinae, and thus constitute the first record of larvae of this subfamily in the Oligocene. The venation pattern of the hind wing clearly shows that it belongs to a species in the family Macromiidae and thus constitutes the oldest record of this family.

A micro-moth fossil from a specimen of Mid-Eocene Baltic amber is described and tentatively identified as a leaf blotch miner from the Lepidopteran family Gracillariidae Stainton, 1854 and belonging to the genus Gracillariites Kozlov, 1987. The good quality of the fossil, including the preservation of wing scales, graphically illustrates the ability of Baltic amber to preserve in exquisite detail insect remains dating from over 41 million years ago.

Beetle remains from a small bog in southern Sweden contribute information concerning the forest history of the study area. The study shows that beetles are valuable indicators of woodland structures such as openness, field vegetation, presence of dead wood and disturbance factors such as climate change, fire regimes, grazing and land use. The early Holocene, ca. 8600–6450 cal. BC, was characterised by open, pine-dominated woodlands maintained by fire and grazing disturbances. The changes in the wetland fauna, between 8600 and 7500 cal. BC, correlate well with low lake levels in southern Sweden. During the mid Holocene, ca. 6450–2400 cal. BC, the woodlands were relatively dense, with few openings in the canopy. Around 4200 cal. BC, there was a shift to a dominance of deciduous trees. Fire and grazing pressures were particularly low. Numbers of aquatic and hygrophilic beetles indicate dry conditions between ca. 5000 and 3000 cal. BC. During the late Holocene, ca. 2400 cal. BC to present, the woodlands opened up mainly through increased land use. The main disturbance factors were fire and grazing. The beetles indicate the formation of heather-dominated heathland around 800 cal. BC. Copyright © 2008 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.This article was published online on 23 December 2008. An error was subsequently identified. This notice is included in the online and print versions to indicate that both have been corrected (5 August 2009).

The fossil Prosyntexis species from the Lower Cretaceous Crato Formation of Brazil are revised. The examination of three new specimens of the sepulcid species Prosyntexis gouleti Sharkey, 1990 allows amending its species diagnosis by adding new morphological characters, especially from the wing venation and from the hitherto unknown antenna. A close comparison with Prosyntexis legitima demonstrates that this species is a junior synonym of P. gouleti (syn. nov.). The taxonomic position of the genus Prosyntexis within Sepulcidae: Trematothoracinae and of the enigmatic Prosyntexis montsecensis Rasnitsyn and Ansorge, 2000 are discussed on the basis of the new morphological data.

Der gegenwärtige Stand der Bearbeitung der Niedermoschel-Bank des Rotliegend (Unterperm) wird kurz zusammengefasst und eine aktuelle Liste der bislang publizierten Taxa gegeben. Funde aus fast allen Großgruppen werden abgebildet. Erstmals wird das Spurenfossil Cochlichnus im Rotliegend des Saar-Nahe-Beckens nachgewiesen. Für die Niedermoschel-Bank kann das Vorkommen der zu den Schachtelhalmgewächsen gehörenden Pflanze Sphenophyllum oblongifolium und von Pflanzen-Insekten-Interaktionen in Form von Fraßspuren und/oder Blattgallen sicher belegt werden. In einem englischsprachigen Anhang wird ein Flügelfragment von einer Fundstelle bei Mannweiler-Cölln beschrieben und diskutiert. Es lässt sich der Stammgruppe der Geradflügler (Archaeorthoptera, Panorthoptera) zuordnen, bietet aber nicht genug Merkmale für eine formelle Neube nennung.