Kumar Krishna, in appreciation

This is the publisher's version, also available electronically from http://www.pensoft.net.Not applicabl

Why Descriptive Science Still Matters

“Descriptive” in science is a pejorative, almost always preceded by “merely,” and typically applied to the array of classical -ologies and -omies: anatomy, archaeology, astronomy, embryology, morphology, paleontology, taxonomy, botany, cartography, stratigraphy, and the various disciplines of zoology, to name a few. But there is chronic misunderstanding as to what descriptive science actually is, and thus there is ignorance of its significance. This in turn imperils these disciplines and even the existence of fundamental knowledge in academia, as recent history teaches us

New mid-Cretaceous earwigs in amber from Myanmar (Dermaptera)

This is the publisher's version, also available electronically from https://journals.ku.edu/index.php/paleoent/article/view/4676.Two new genera and species of mid-Cretaceous earwigs are described and figured from Burmese (Myanmar) amber. Zigrasolabis speciosa Engel & Grimaldi, new genus and species, is represented by a series of females in a single, large piece of amber. Toxolabis zigrasi Engel & Grimaldi, new genus and species, is based on a single male. Two first-instar nymphs in the same piece as T. zigrasi may represent early stadia for this species. In addition, two further morphospecies of isolated nymphs are recorded. Both of the described genera belong to the Neodermaptera (Zigrasolabis a labidurine, Toxolabis likely an anisolabidine) but can be excluded from the Eudermaptera clade, the latter of which likely originated and diversified in the Early Tertiary or latest Cretaceous

Whipspiders (Arachnida: Amblypygi) in amber from the Early Eocene and mid-Cretaceous, including maternal care

This is the publisher's version, also available electronically from https://journals.ku.edu/index.php/paleoent/article/view/4765.Two new genera and species of fossil whipspiders (Chelicerata: Arachnida: Amblypygi) are described from Tertiary and Cretaceous ambers of southern Asia. Paracharonopsis cambayensis Engel & Grimaldi, new genus and species, preserved in Cambay amber of Ypresian age from western India is the first Tertiary and Asian fossil of the Paleoamblypygi, a highly relict taxon that includes the Late Carboniferous genus Graeophonus Scudder and the living West African species Paracharon caecus Hansen. Paracharonopsis cambayensis is one of the few examples in Cambay amber of a biotic connection to Africa; most taxa show widespread or Laurasian distributions. Kronocharon prendinii Engel & Grimaldi, new genus and species, is the first Cretaceous amber whipspider and putatively a sister group to the Phrynoidea (= Apulvillata). The holotype female of K. prendinii is preserved with the remains of three nymphs near her, documenting the Early Cretaceous presence of the extended maternal care so distinctive for the order, and a behavioral repertoire widespread among arachnids

Phylogeny and Geological History of the Cynipoid Wasps (Hymenoptera: Cynipoidea)

The geological history of the wasp superfamily Cynipoidea is reviewed, with the description of various new taxa, being mostly in Late Cretaceous amber from New Jersey and Canada. The various fossil lineages are incorporated into a phylogenetic analysis of the superfamily, and their implications for understanding the evolution of the group are explored. The following new taxa or taxonomic changes are proposed (authorship of all taxa is Liu and Engel): Protimaspidae, new family; Stolamissidae, new family; Stolamissus, new genus; Stolamissus mirabilis, new species; Proliopterinae, new subfamily; Proliopteron, new genus; Proliopteron redactus, new species; Goeraniinae, new subfamily; Goerania, new genus; Goerania petiolata, new species; Micropresbyteria, new genus; Micropresbyteria caputipressa, new species; Anteucoila, new genus; Anteucoila delicia, new species; Jerseucoila, new genus; Jerseucoila plesiosoma, new species; Syneucoila, new genus; Syneucoila magnifica, new species; Tanaoknemus, new genus; Tanaoknemus ecarinatus, new species; Kinseycynips, new genus; Kinseycynips succinea (Kinsey), new combination. The extinct family Rasnicynipidae is newly transferred to Figitidae and classified as a basal subfamily therein (Rasnicynipinae, status novus). The Gerocynipidae, its type genus Gerocynips, and the type species upon which they are founded, Gerocynips zherichini, are found to be nomenclaturally unavailable. Gerocynips zherichini is regarded as a nomen nudum; the genus as newly validated is Gerocynips, new genus (with G. siberica Kovalev as type species); and the family as validated is Gerocynipidae, new family. The fossil records of Cynipoidea are summarized

Serphitid wasps in Cretaceous amber from New Jersey (Hymenoptera: Serphitidae)

This is the publisher's version, also available electronically from http://booksandjournals.brillonline.com/.Species of the extinct, parasitoid wasp family Serphitidae (Proctotrupomorpha: Bipetiolarida: Serphitoidea), occurring in Cretaceous (Turonian) amber from New Jersey, are reviewed. Two species, both new, are described and figured as Serphites raritanensis Engel & Grimaldi sp.n. and S. navesinkae Engel & Grimaldi sp.n

Zoropelecinus zigrasi, a pelecinid wasp in mid-Cretaceous amber from Myanmar (Hymenoptera: Pelecinidae)

This is the publisher's version, also available electronically from https://journals.ku.edu/index.php/paleoent/indexThe proctotrupoid wasp family Pelecinidae (Proctotrupomorpha: Proctotrupoidea) is recorded in Early Cretaceous amber for the first time, previous amber inclusions being from the Late Cretaceous or Tertiary. Zoropelecinus zigrasi Engel & Grimaldi, new genus and species, is described and figured from an exquisitely preserved female in Albian-Cenomanian amber from Myanmar. The genus is similar to other fossil pelecinids of the genera Pelecinopteron Brues (Paleogene ambers of the Baltic and Siberia) and Henopelecinus Engel & Grimaldi (Turonian amber, New Jersey). Although two subfamilies have at times been recognized (or even as two families) the Iscopininae are clearly paraphyletic with respect to Pelecininae and therefore of no classificatory value and accordingly synonymized herein (new synonymy)