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

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

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

First record of tiger beetles (Coleoptera, Cicindelidae) from Rovno amber, with the description of a new genus and species

Matalin, Andrey V., Perkovsky, Evgeny E., Vasilenko, Dmitry V. (2021): First record of tiger beetles (Coleoptera, Cicindelidae) from Rovno amber, with the description of a new genus and species. Zootaxa 5016 (2): 243-256, DOI: https://doi.org/10.11646/zootaxa.5016.2.

Balticalcarus archibaldi Simutnik Gen. et sp. n. (Chalcidoidea, Encyrtidae) with the Unusually Small Mesotibial Spur from Baltic Amber

Balticalcarus archibaldi Simutnik, gen. et sp. n., is described and illustrated based on a female specimen from late Eocene Baltic amber. The new genus is characterized by the absence of a filum spinosum, a “boat”-shaped hypopygium enclosing the ovipositor, reaching far past the apex of the syntergum, the presence of a line of long setae along the entire costal cell of the hind wing, and a transverse line of thickened setae alongside the hyaline spur vein. Moreover, like most previously described Eocene Encyrtidae, the new taxon differs from the majority of the extant ones by a number of morphological features. The new fossil differs from most extant and all known fossil Encyrtidae by its unusually small, thin, smooth (without microsetae) mesotibial spur

A new fossil species of the genus Parasinalda Heiss & Golub (Hemiptera: Heteroptera: Tingidae) from Upper Eocene Rovno amber

Golub, Viktor B., Perkovsky, Evgeny E., Vasilenko, Dmitry V. (2021): A new fossil species of the genus Parasinalda Heiss & Golub (Hemiptera: Heteroptera: Tingidae) from Upper Eocene Rovno amber. Zootaxa 5027 (2): 290-296, DOI: https://doi.org/10.11646/zootaxa.5027.2.

Formica species (Hymenoptera, Formicidae, Formicinae) in late Eocene Rovno amber

A new species, Formica ribbeckei Radchenko & Perkovsky, sp. nov., is described based on four workers from late Eocene Rovno amber (Ukraine). It most resembles F. flori Mayr, 1868 but differs from the latter mainly by the 5-segmented maxillary palps with the preapical segment subequal in length to the apical one, and by the shorter first funicular segment. Fossil F. luteola Presl, 1822, F. trigona Presl, 1822, F. macrognatha Presl, 1822 and F. quadrata Holl, 1829 are considered incertae sedis in Formicidae. Thus, ten valid Formica Linnaeus, 1758 species (including F. ribbeckei) are known now from late Eocene European ambers. The diversity of Formica in the early and middle Eocene deposits of Eurasia and North America is considered. It is assumed that the genus Formica most likely arose in the early Eocene

A mid-Cretaceous land snail Euthema truncatellina sp. nov. (Caenogastropoda Cyclophoroidea, Diplommatinidae) from Burmese amber

Balashov, Igor A., Perkovsky, Evgeny E., Vasilenko, Dmitry V. (2020): A mid-Cretaceous land snail Euthema truncatellina sp. nov. (Caenogastropoda Cyclophoroidea, Diplommatinidae) from Burmese amber. Zootaxa 4858 (2): 295-300, DOI: https://doi.org/10.11646/zootaxa.4858.2.1

Discovery of the first apterous pincer wasp from amber, with description of a new tribe, genus and species of Apodryininae (Hymenoptera, Dryinidae)

Olmi, Massimo, Guglielmino, Adalgisa, Vasilenko, Dmitry V., Perkovsky, Evgeny E. (2022): Discovery of the first apterous pincer wasp from amber, with description of a new tribe, genus and species of Apodryininae (Hymenoptera, Dryinidae). Zootaxa 5162 (1): 54-66, DOI: https://doi.org/10.11646/zootaxa.5162.1.