Convergent evolution of ramified antennae in insect lineages from the Early Cretaceous of Northeastern China.

Antennae are important, insect sensory organs that are used principally for communication with other insects and the detection of environmental cues. Some insects independently evolved ramified (branched) antennae, which house several types of sensilla for motion detection, sensing olfactory and chemical cues, and determining humidity and temperature levels. Though ramified antennae are common in living insects, occasionally they are present in the Mesozoic fossil record. Here, we present the first caddisflies with ramified antennae, the earliest known fossil sawfly, and a scorpionfly also with ramified antennae from the mid-Lower Cretaceous Yixian Formation of Northeastern China, dated at 125 million years ago (Ma). These three insect taxa with ramified antennae consist of three unrelated lineages and provide evidence for broad structural convergence that historically has been best demonstrated by features such as convergent mouthparts. In addition, ramified antennae in these Mid-Mesozoic lineages likely do not constitute a key innovation, as they are not associated with significantly increased diversification compared with closely related lineages lacking this trait, and nor are they ecologically isolated from numerous, co-occurring insect species with unmodified antennae.

Sensor based on macrobent fiber Bragg grating structure for simultaneous measurement of refractive index and temperature.

A novel and compact all-fiber sensor based on a macrobent fiber Bragg grating (FBG) structure for simultaneous measurement of refractive index (RI) and temperature is proposed and experimentally investigated. The sensor can be easily fabricated by properly bending an FBG. The bending causes interference between the core mode and the whispering gallery mode, which induces another kind of dip in the transmission spectra of the sensor besides the sharp one of the FBG. Because the two kinds of dips respond differently to the surrounding RI and temperature, these two parameters can be unambiguously measured by the sensor. A sample sensor was fabricated and experimentally investigated, and RI sensitivity of 165.9276 nm/RIU in the range from 1.3330 to 1.3785 and temperature sensitivity of 31.7 pm/°C were achieved. This sensor provides a convenient and economical way for applications where temperature and RI have to be simultaneously measured.

Highly efficient Er/Yb-codoped fiber amplifier with an Yb-band fiber Bragg grating.

In this Letter, a high-power Er/Yb-codoped fiber amplifier (EYDFA) with a high-reflection Yb-band fiber Bragg grating (FBG) at the pump end is experimentally investigated. The FBG was inscribed on a piece of double-clad fiber with a center wavelength of 1032 nm. Due to the selective reflection of the backward Yb-band amplified spontaneous emission (Yb ASE) by the FBG, a co-pump-propagating Yb-band auxiliary signal was generated. Because of the stimulated amplification and reabsorption of the auxiliary signal, the Yb ASE was dramatically suppressed and the pump conversion efficiency (PCE) of the EYDFA was notably improved. An output power of 6.48 W was achieved at a pump power of 16.5 W, which is equivalent to a PCE of ∼39%. The slope efficiency relative to applied pump power was ∼40%. The maximum output power was improved ∼20% because of the introduction of the FBG.

A new Early Cretaceous shore bug (Hemiptera: Heteroptera: Saldidae) from China.

A new genus Luculentsalda Zhang, Yao & Ren gen. nov. (type-species Luculentsalda maculosa Zhang, Yao & Ken sp. nov.) of Saldidae is described and illustrated. All the specimens were collected from Early Cretaceous Yixian Formation of Huangbanjigou, Beipiao City, Liaoning Province, China. New findings suggest that the subfamily Chiloxanthinae probably originated in the eastern part of Laurasia.

A new species of Protopsyllidiidae (Hemiptera, Sternorrhyncha) from the Middle Jurassic of northeastern China.

Based on two compression fossils from the Middle Jurassic Jiulongshan Formation of Daohugou Village, Ningcheng County, Inner Mongolia, China, a new fossil species, Poljanka curticapillata L, Luo & Yao, sp. nov., of the extinct family Protopsyllidiidae is described. It is characterized by the flagellomeres 16 slender and 6 small subsections at apex, the presence of genae, the basal tarsomere almost equal to the apical tarsomere of fore and middle legs, and basal tarsomere about 2.11 times as long as apical tarsomere of hind leg, and the forewing veins R longer than M + Cu1, Cu1 with curved Cu1a and Cu1b, and Cu1a/Cu1b ratio 3.463.63. These body features and combination of forewing venation characteristics differ the new taxon from all other known species of Poljanka Klimaszewski, 1995. We also provide a key to the species of Poljanka and revise the diagnosis of the genus.

New Cretaceous Bugs from Northeastern China Imply the Systematic Position of Pachymeridiidae (Hemiptera: Heteroptera).

Varicapitatus sinuolatus gen. et sp. nov. is described from the Yixian Formation of Northeastern China. Based on the new specimens, this study discusses the morphological characteristics and taxonomic position of Pachymeridiidae: Pachymeridiidae belongs to Pentatomomorpha and is more closely related to Lygaeoidea. In Heteroptera, the costal fracture of the forewing is a homoplastic characteristic, already evolved independently several times among most taxa before the Early Cretaceous. The pulvillus under the claw in Pentatomomorpha is also a homoplastic characteristic. In Pachymeridiidae, the forewing costal fracture and absence of pulvillus can be recognized as an independent evolution or convergence, implying that pachymeridiids may have different flight and crawling behaviors distinct from other Pentatomomorpha groups.

New Fossil Tingidae (Hemiptera: Heteroptera) from the Mid-Cretaceous of Myanmar, with Remarks on the Phylogenetic Relationships within the Family.

A new genus and species, Latidorsum carinbifarium Wang, Tang & Yao gen. et sp. nov., is assigned to Phatnomatini (Tinginae), which is described from the mid-Cretaceous Burmese amber. A parsimonious analysis based on 50 morphological characters with 26 terminals clarifies the phylogenetic status of the new fossils and examined relationships among the presently analysed genera of the family Tingidae. The resulting cladogram supporting Tingidae are reconfirmed as monophyletic and divided into four main clades, with relationships as follows: (Vianaidinae + ((Burmacader multivenosus + Burmavianaida anomalocapitata) + (Sinaldocader rasnitsyni + (Gyaclavator kohlsi + Tinginae + Cantacaderinae)))). Anterior length of bucculae distinctly projecting in front of head, sometimes in contact is not a synapomorphic character for Cantacaderinae, which evolves in parallel in Tinginae and Cantacaderinae.

A new genus and species of burrower bugs (Heteroptera: Cydnidae) from the mid-Cretaceous Burmese amber.

A new genus and species of Cydnidae, Punctacorona triplosticha gen. et sp. nov. (Heteroptera: Pentatomomorpha) is described and illustrated from Myanmar amber. This new genus is established based on its forewing anterior margin angulated, clavus narrow, with three rows of distinct punctures, metapleuron neighboring to posterior margin of evaporatorium carinate. A comparison between the new species and the Chilamnestocoris mixtus Lis et al. 2018 from Myanmar is provided.

A new scale insect of the extinct family Weitschatidae (Insecta: Hemiptera: Coccomorpha) from mid-Cretaceous Burmese amber.

A new genus and species of the extinct family Weitschatidae, Criniverticillus longicumulus gen. et sp. nov. (Hemiptera: Coccomorpha), is described and illustrated from mid-Cretaceous Burmese amber. The new species is based on a fossil specimen with complete body, wings and antennae. The family diagnosis is updated to include similarities between Criniverticillus, Pseudoweitschatus and Weitschatus. An identification key to species of Weitschatidae is provided.

A new genus and species of Rhopalidae (Hemiptera: Heteroptera) from the Early Cretaceous of Liaoning Province, China.

A new fossil Vescisalignus indecorus gen. et sp. nov. (Rhopalidae) is described and illustrated from the Early Cretaceous. All the specimens described here were collected from the Yixian Formantion of Beipiao City, Liaoning Province, northeastern China. This is the first report of rhopalid from Yixian Formation in Liaoning Province, China.

A New Fossil of Necrotauliidae (Insecta: Trichoptera) from the Jiulongshan Formation of China and Its Taxonomic Significance.

BACKGROUND: Acisarcuatus variradius gen. et sp. nov., an extinct new species representing a new genus, is described from the Middle Jurassic Jiulongshan Formation in Daohugou Village, Inner Mongolia, China. METHODOLOGY/PRINCIPAL FINDINGS: In this paper, we revised the diagnosis of Necrotauliidae Handlirsch, 1906. One new genus and species of Necrotauliidae is described. An analysis based on the fossil morphological characters clarified the taxonomic status of the new taxa. CONCLUSIONS/SIGNIFICANCE: New fossil evidence supports the viewpoint that the family Necrotauliidae belongs to the Integripalpia.

Blood-feeding true bugs in the Early Cretaceous.

Blood-feeding insects, as vectors of disease for humans and livestock alike, have garnered significant interest, but our understanding of their early evolution is hindered by the scarcity of available material and the difficulty in distinguishing early hematophages from non-blood-feeding relatives. Here, we report a new family of true bugs including two new genera and species from the Early Cretaceous Yixian Formation in Northeastern China. By utilizing geochemical methods for determining their diets and combining morphological and taphonomic data, we demonstrate that these new species represent the earliest evidence of blood feeding among true bugs, extending the geological record of such lineages by approximately 30 million years. Remarkably, one of the bugs appears to have perished immediately following a blood meal, which may have been from coexisting mammals, birds, or avian-related dinosaurs. These records expand the phylogenetic and ecological diversity of blood-feeding insects in the Early Cretaceous, enriching our knowledge of paleoecological associations in these ancient environments.

Phylogeny of the Infraorder Pentatomomorpha based on fossil and extant morphology, with description of a new fossil family from China.

BACKGROUND: An extinct new family of Pentatomomorpha, Venicoridae Yao, Ren & Cai fam. nov., with 2 new genera and 2 new species (Venicoris solaris Yao, Ren & Rider gen. & sp. nov. and Clavaticoris zhengi Yao, Ren & Cai gen. & sp. nov.) are described from the Early Cretaceous Yixian Formation in Northeast China. METHODOLOGY/PRINCIPAL FINDINGS: A cladistic analysis based on a combination of fossil and extant morphological characters clarified the phylogenetic status of the new family and has allowed the reconstruction of intersuperfamily and interfamily relationships within the Infraorder Pentatomomorpha. The fossil record and diversity of Pentatomomorpha during the Mesozoic is discussed. CONCLUSIONS/SIGNIFICANCE: Pentatomomorpha is a monophyletic group; Aradoidea and the Trichophora are sister groups; these fossils belong to new family, treated as the sister group of remainder of Trichophora; Pentatomoidea is a monophyletic group; Piesmatidae should be separated as a superfamily, Piesmatoidea. Origin time of Pentatomomorpha should be tracked back to the Middle or Early Triassic.

New shore bug (Hemiptera, Heteroptera, Saldidae) from the Early Cretaceous of China with phylogenetic analyses.

A new genus with a new species of Saldidae, Brevrimatus pulchalifergen. et sp. n., is described and illustrated. The fossil specimen was found from the Early Cretaceous Yixian Formation of Duolun County, Inner Mongolia, China. Phylogenetic analyses within Saldidae were performed, and the results indicate Brevrimatus pulchalifergen. et sp. n. should be assigned to the subfamily Chiloxanthinae.