No abstract

Viviparity evolved in bacteria, plants, ˃141 vertebrate lineages (ichthyosaurs, lizards, fishes, mammals, and others), and in 11 of 44 insect orders. Live-birth cockroaches preserved with brood sac (3D recovered two times optically) included Diploptera vladimir, Diploptera savba, Diploptera gemini spp.n., D. sp.1-2, and Stegoblatta irmgardgroehni from Green River, Colorado; Quilchena, Republic; McAbee, Canada; and Baltic amber, Russia (49, 54, and 45 Ma). They evolved from rare and newly evolved Blaberidae; they radiated circumtropically, later expanded into SE Asia, and have now spread to Hawaii and the SE USA. Association of autapomorphic characters that allow for passive and active protections from parasitic insects (unique wing origami pleating identical with its egg case-attacking wasp) suggest a response to high parasitic loads. Synchronized with global reorganization of the biota, morphotype destabilization in roaches lasted approximately 11-22 Ma, including both the adaptation of novel characters and the reduction of others. Thus, while viviparity can be disadvantageous, in association with new Bauplans and/or behaviors, it can contribute to the evolution of taxa with viviparous representatives that are slightly selectively preferred.

Extensive sampling of Pipunculidae in the frame of faunistic research in former Czechoslovakia as well as several other European countries over the last two decades has resulted in the discovery of several unknown species of this family. In this work, we present descriptions of three new species of the genus Pipunculus Latreille, 1802. Pipunculus adami Kozánek, sp. nov. and P. lindae Kozánek, sp. nov. are described from Slovakia and the Czech Republic, P. anatolicus Kozánek, sp. nov. is described on the basis of specimens from Turkey. The detailed redescription of the male of P. wolfi Kowarz, 1887, including the so far unknown male terminalia, is presented. The key taxonomic characters are visualized as interactive microphotographs provided with browsing software.