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The oldest fossil Diptera are known from the Grès à Voltzia Formation (Upper Buntsandstein) of the northern Vosges Mountains (northeastern France), the age of which is early Anisian (early Middle Triassic). Six monotypic genera assigned to all the major lineages of Diptera (except for the Culicomorpha) were described from these beds based on adults (Krzeminski et al. 1994;Krzeminski & Krzeminska 2003). Immature Diptera also occur in the Grès à Voltzia (ca 30 specimens). Pupae are abundant whereas the larvae are extremely rare. The most numerous and well-preserved pupal type has been assigned to Voltziapupa n. gen. (V. tentata n. sp. and V. cornuta n. sp.). These pupae display plesiomorphic characters combined with possibly derived ones. Among the larvae, Anisinodus crinitus n. gen., n. sp. shows culicomorph features. It represents the earliest Culicomorpha (Chironomoidea inc. fam.) known up to date. The other types of dipteran immatures (six pupal and two larval ones) occurring in the Grès à Voltzia are less well preserved, so that their systematic position is diffi cult to determine and they have been assigned to the Nematocera incertae sedis. These immature Diptera are the fi rst ones recorded from the Triassic. Résumé. La plus ancienne occurence de diptères immatures (Insecta), Triassique Moyen, France.Le plus ancien fossile de diptère est connu de la formation des Grès à Voltzia (Buntsandstein supérieur) du nord des Vosges (nord-est France), dont l'âge correspond à l'Anisien ancien (Triassique Moyen ancien). Six genre monotypiques assignés a toutes les grands groupes de diptères (sauf les culicomorphes) ont été décrits de ces dépôts sous leur seule forme adulte (Krzeminski et al. 1994;Krzeminski & Krzeminska 2003). Des diptères immatures existent aussi dans les Grès à Voltzia (ca 30 spécimens). Les pupes sont abondantes tandis que les larves sont extrèmement rares. Les pupes les plus nombreuses et les mieux préservées ont été attribuées à Voltziapupa n. gen. (V. tentata n. sp. et V. cornuta n. sp.). Ces pupes présentent des caractères plésiomorphes combinés avec d'autres possiblement dérivés. Parmi les larves, Anisinodus crinitus n. gen., n. sp. présente des caractéristiques culicomorphes, ce qui représente le plus ancien culicomorphe connu à ce jour (Chironomoidea inc. fam.). Les autres diptères immatures des Grès à Voltzia (six pupes et deux larves) sont moins bien préservés de telle sorte que leur position systématique est diffi cile à déterminer ce qui mène à les considérer comme des nématocères incertae sedis. Ces diptères immatures sont les premiers connus du Triassique.

Here we provide evidence for the presence of non-biting midges of the subfamily Chironominae in the Mesozoic, based on descriptions of exceptionally rare amber inclusions. The subfamily has already been reported, but based on a single and unspecified record from Late Cretaceous Taimyr amber (~84 Mya). That record is here revised and confirmed. Moreover, a new find in Burmese amber locates the temporal boundary of the subfamily back to the mid-Cretaceous (probably ~100 Mya). We describe two new genera assigned to the tribe Pseudochironomini: Mesoacentron gen. nov. with the species Mesoacentron kaluginae sp. nov. (Taimyr amber) and Palaeocentron gen. nov. with the species Palaeocentron krzeminskii sp. nov. (Burmese amber), the oldest known representative of the subfamily. The systematic position of the new taxa is discussed, and a key to the identification of adult males of extinct and extant Pseudochironomini genera is presented. Insights in the phylogeny and diversification tempo of the Chironominae and Pseudochironomini in the past are also provided.

The first Triassic dipteran from South America is described based on an isolated wing from the lower Upper Triassic deposits of Argentina (Mendoza Province, Potrerillos Formation, Quebrada del Durazno locality). Trihennigma zavattierii gen. et sp. nov. is a member of the Mesozoic family Hennigmatidae, previously recorded only from Eurasia. A key for the genera and species of Hennigmatidae is provided and systematic position of the taxa is discussed.