New Data on the Genus Sucinoptius (Coleoptera, Ptinidae) from Rovno Amber

Study of five examples of spider beetle inclusions from Rovno amber revealed that at least three of these spider beetles belong to the genus Sucinoptinus Bellés et Vitali, 2007, of them, S. rovnoensis sp. n. (most probably from Klesov) and S. brevipennis sp. n. from Dubrovitsa are described. S. rovnoensis is similar to the previously known S. bukejsi Alekseev in having the same general structure of pronotum and elytra, differing from it by the morphology of pronotal sides, which are only slightly rounded and practically not constricted near the base, whereas in S. bukejsi the sides are well rounded leaving a slight but clear constriction near the base. S. brevipennis is similar to S. bukejsi Alekseev and S. sucini Bellés et Vitali in having the same general structure of the prothorax, but differing from them in having much shorter elytra. Addition of these two new species to the two previously known, S. sucini, from the eastern Baltic Sea coast, and S. bukejsi, from Kaliningrad Region, indicates that the genus Sucinoptinus was much more diverse and widespread in Late Eocene forests than former reports suggested.Peer reviewe

Protomauroania mikhailovi — a new species of malachite beetles (Coleoptera, Dasytidae) in Rovno amber

A new species of malachite beetles, Protomauroania mikhailovi Tshernyshev & Perkovsky, sp. n. is described from late Eocene Rovno amber. The new beetle is the second species of the Eocene fossil genus Protomauroania Tshernyshev, 2021 that was first recorded in Rovno amber and shows fauna similarity of dasytids in Baltic and Rovno amber. The new species is typical owing to the following characters: antennae with 5-segmented wide club, surface covered with darkbrown long semi-erect thin setae, and the ultimate ventrite (apical sternite) simple, narrow, not depressed. Digital high resolution pictures of the beetle are provided

New genus and species of Aleyrodidae from Eocene Baltic amber (Hemiptera: Sternorrhyncha: Aleyrodomorpha)

A new genus Rovnodicus gen. n., with new species Rovnodicus wojciechowskii sp. n. is described from Eocene Rovno amber, Ukraine. It is placed in the subfamily Aleurodicinae. It is the first whitefly from this fossil source. Its morphological features and taxonomic position with respect to other Aleurodicinae from the Eocene are briefly discussed. The article outlines the influences of this finding on discussions of the origin, age and taxonomic similarities between Baltic amber from Ukraine and that from the Gulf of Gdańsk and Bitterfeld as well as on palaeoecological reconstructions of the fossil site. The name ‘Aleurochiton eozaenicus WEIGELT 1940’, mentioned as the fossil puparium of a whitefly from the Middle Eocene Geiseltal Fossillagerstätte appears to be nomen nudum

The first reliable fossil record of the tribe Centistini (Hymenoptera, Braconidae, Euphorinae): a new subgenus and species of braconid wasp in Danish amber

A new subgenus and species of the braconid parasitoid of the tribe Centistini s. l. (Euphorinae), Centistoides (Palaeoides) magnioculus Belokobylskij, subgen. et sp. nov., from late Eocene Danish amber are described and illustrated from one female. This is the first time the tribe of euphorine parasitoids is reliably documented in the fossil record. A key to all genera and subgenera of this suprageneric taxonomic group is compiled. The discussion about position of the genus Parasyrrhizus Brues, composition of the tribe Centistini s. l., and the composition of the Danish amber hymenopteran fauna are provided

Protaphycus shuvalikovi Simutnik gen. et sp. nov. (Chalcidoidea, Encyrtidae, Encyrtinae) from Rovno amber

Protaphycus shuvalikovi Simutnik gen. et sp. nov., the smallest fossil Encyrtidae, is described and illustrated based on female specimen from late Eocene Rovno amber. Like most previously described Eocene Encyrtidae, the new taxon differs from the majority of extant encyrtids by the subapical position of the cerci, the relatively long marginal vein of the forewing, a distinctly swollen but not triangular parastigma, and a seta marking the apex of the postmarginal vein is not any longer than others on this vein. The new genus is characterized by the presence of a filum spinosum and the hypopygium reaching way past the apex of syntergum. This combination of the character states is known only in a few representatives of extant Encyrtinae. The new genus, probably, most closely related to the extant genus Aphycus Mayr, 1876

Potential Distribution of the Invasive Species Metcalfa pruinosa (Hemiptera, Flatidae) and Perspectives of its Classical Biocontrol in Ukraine

The study used GIS software and climate projections to assess the distribution potential of the citrus planthopper Metcalfa pruinosa (Say, 1830) in Ukraine, taking into account global climate change. The model showed that climatic conditions in Ukraine meet the requirements of the species in the European part of its range, considering various indicators such as the sum of active temperatures, mean annual temperature and precipitation. The whole territory of Ukraine could potentially be a range for M. pruinosa due to suitable climatic conditions and the presence of host plants, with Zakarpattia, Crimea and the forest and woodland and steppe zones of Ukraine being the most favourable. Current phytosanitary measures are not sufficient to prevent its spread and a pest management system is needed to reduce the damage. The parasitoid Neodryinus typhlocybae (Ashmead, 1893) (Hymenoptera, Dryinidae) from North America could serve as a classical biological control agent, and suitable areas in southern Ukraine have been identified using GIS modelling. To manage the risk effectively, it is recommended that M. pruinosa be added to the list of regulated, non-quarantined pests in Ukraine

35 million-year-old solid-wood-borer beetle larvae support the idea of stressed Eocene amber forests

Eocene amber is an important window into the past about 35 million years ago. The large quantities of resin produced by this forest of the past, resulting in amber, triggered the idea of a forest under stress. Recent findings of higher abundances of hoverfly larvae in Eocene amber, in the modern fauna often associated with wood-borer larvae, provided a hint that wood-borer larvae may have contributed to this stress. Yet, so far only few such larvae have been reported. We have compiled a dozen additional wood-borer larvae in amber, including a giant one of at least 35 mm length in Rovno amber. Heavily damaged fossils furthermore indicate that larger larvae of this type were prone to oxidation and that, at least some, enigmatic tube-like tunnels in larger amber pieces may represent remains of large wood-borer larvae. This find strongly indicates that wood-borer larvae were not rare, but common in the Eocene amber forest, which is compatible with the high abundances of hoverfly larvae and further supports the idea of a forest under stress. Whether the possible higher abundances of wood-borer larvae were the cause of the stress or a symptom of an already stressed forest remains so far unclear

First fossil species of ship-timber beetles (Coleoptera, Lymexylidae) from Eocene Rovno amber (Ukraine)

A new lymexylid fossil species, †Raractocetus sverlilo Nazarenko, Perkovsky & Yamamoto, sp. nov., is described from late Eocene Rovno amber of Ukraine. This new species is similar to species of the recent genera Atractocerus Palisot de Beauvois and Raractocetus Kurosawa in the ship-timber beetle subfamily Atractocerinae, but differs in pronotal and elytral features. Notably, the new species is one of the smallest atractocerines known to date. This is the first member of the family Lymexylidae found in Rovno amber. Our finding sheds further light on the paleodiversity of atractocerine beetles, highlighting a peculiar distribution during the Eocene. Only one extant atractocerine specimen has been reported from Europe (Greece), while three species from Eocene European amber forests with equable climate are known now, including two species from the otherwise tropical genus Raractocetus. Our finding of the Raractocetus beetle from Rovno amber is of significant biogeographically because it indicates the wide distribution of the genus in the Eocene European amber forests