Phase contrast X-ray synchrotron microtomography and the oldest damselflies in amber (Odonata: Zygoptera: Hemiphlebiidae)

Abstract

International audienceElectrohemiphlebia barucheli gen. et sp. nov. and Jordanhemiphlebia electronica gen. et sp. nov., two new genera and species are described, based on exceptional inclusions of hemiphlebiid damselflies in Cretaceous amber from France and Jordan. The type specimen of E. barucheli was studied using phase contrast X-ray synchrotron microtomography, giving exceptional images and detailed information. Its comparison with the recent Hemiphlebia mirabilis confirms the attribution of several Cretaceous damselflies to the Hemiphlebiidae, showing that this particular group was widespread in the Early Cretaceous and probably originated in the Late Jurassic or earlier. The ecological niches today occupied by the small coenagrionoid damselflies were occupied during the Triassic and Jurassic by Protozygoptera, hemiphlebiids during the Early Cretaceous, and modern taxa in the Cenozoic

Description of an ancient social bee trapped in amber using diagnostic radioentomology

“…DR is particularly useful for studying inclusions in opaque amber (Lak et al, 2008(Lak et al, , 2009. Gross external morphological features of the bee such as the flagellomeres, the articulations of the coxae, trochanters, tibiae, and tarsi, including the corbiculae of the metatibiae and the broadened metabasitarsi, were well visualized in the 3D reconstructions (Fig.…”

“…The technique is understandably limited when used for amber inclusions (e.g., Wille and Chandler, 1964;Michener, 1982;Engel, 1995Engel, , 1996Engel, , 1997Rozen, 1996;Camargo et al, 2000;Oliveira, 2002;Hinojosa-Díaz and Engel, 2008), particularly with specimens preserved in opaque pieces (Lak et al, 2008(Lak et al, , 2009). Schlüter and Stürmer (1982) attempted to address methods of examining insect inclusions in opaque amber pieces as well as supplement traditional light microscopic study of clear specimens.…”

A re-description of the fossil damselfly Eolestes syntheticus Cockerell, 1940 (Odonata: Zygoptera: Eolestidae n. fam.) with description of new taxa from the Eocene of North America

“…Five new genera of Hemiphlebiidae, all from the early Cretaceous when this family is thought to have been widespread, have been described (Bechly 1998;Jarzembowski et al 1998;Vasilenko 2005;Lak et al 2009). Three new extinct monotypic families, Cretacoenagrionidae, Priscalestidae, and Austroperilestidae have been assigned to Lestoidea (Bechly 1995;Wappler & Petrulevicius 2007;Petrulevicius & Nel 2005) and three new extinct monotypic genera, Cretalestes, Libanolestes, and Promegalestes, assigned to either ?Lestoidea or Lestoidea, but…”

New morphological data from the Jurassic of Inner Mongolia confirms the damselfly aspect of Protomyrmeleontidae (Insecta: Odonatoptera)

“…Protomyrmeleontidae appeared during the Upper Triassic and their last known representatives are from Lower Cretaceous, while small, true damselflies are known from the Lower Cretaceous (Lak et al, 2009). A third group of damselflylike Odonata existed in the Jurassic: the Isophlebioptera: Asiopteridae.…”