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Issue: Vol. 5396 No. 1: 29 Dec. 2023
Type: Article
Published: 2023-12-29
DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.5396.1.13
Page range: 74-93
Abstract views: 216
PDF downloaded: 11

First record of fossil psocodeans in copula from mid-Cretaceous Burmese amber

State Key Laboratory of Palaeobiology and Stratigraphy; Nanjing Institute of Geology and Palaeontology; Chinese Academy of Sciences; Nanjing 210008; China
State Key Laboratory of Palaeobiology and Stratigraphy; Nanjing Institute of Geology and Palaeontology; Chinese Academy of Sciences; Nanjing 210008; China; Lebanese University; Faculty of Science II; Natural Sciences Department; Fanar - El-Matn; PO box 26110217; Lebanon
State Key Laboratory of Palaeobiology and Stratigraphy; Nanjing Institute of Geology and Palaeontology; Chinese Academy of Sciences; Nanjing 210008; China
Psocodea Myanmar Mesozoic fossil insect Paraneoptera Atropetae mating behaviour

Abstract

We report the first discovery of barklice preserved in copula from amber dating back to the mid-Cretaceous, thus documenting the oldest preserved reproductive behaviour of Psocodea. The new finding provides new insight into the evolution of copulatory behaviour in Trogiomorpha. Moreover, we describe and illustrate the new fossil material of Burmempheria densuschaetae (= Latempheria kachinensis) in the extinct family Empheriidae and Longiantennum fashengi in the extinct family Archaeatropidae, two diverse and widely distributed groups during the Cretaceous. No significant sexual dimorphism is recorded, apart from variation in size where males are larger. The taxonomy of Cretaceous empheriids from Burmese amber is revised and discussed.

 

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