The Evolutionary History of the Coleoptera

Cretaciella sorianoae gen. et sp. nov. (Coleoptera, Leiodidae, Cholevinae, Oritocatopini) from Albian amber of the Escucha Formation (Alava, Spain) is described and illustrated. This is the first species of Leiodidae from Alava amber and the first Cholevinae from Cretaceous amber. External and internal structures are investigated by propagation phase contrast X-ray microtomography. Based on both external and genital structures, Cretaciella is tentatively placed in the tribe Oritocatopini, the extant species of which occur in Sub-Saharan Africa. This specimen has no visible eyes or hind wings, which suggests an adaptation to subterranean or at least to soil litter environments. The biogeography of the tribe is succinctly discussed. Full article

The paper is the first of a series, which aims to present a consistent interpretation of the suprageneric taxa of fossil beetles in the current century and their generic and species composition. Order Coleoptera is considered in composition of the superorder Coleopteroidea Handlirsch, 1903 (= Coleopterida sensu Boudreaux, 1979, nec Pearse, 1936) together with orders Skleroptera and Strepsiptera, and also with the family Umenocoleidae of unclear position. This paper includes the archostematan superfamilies Coleopseoidea and Cupedoidea of the infraorder Cupediformia, i.e., Coleopseidae (one genus and one species), Tshekardocoleidae (12 genera, 15 species), Labradorocoleidae (one genus, one species), Permocupedidae (together with Taldycupedinae, stat. nov., 24 genera and 54 species) and Cupedidae (three subfamilies, 49 genera, 253 species). The preliminary information on structure of the larva of Tshekardocoleidae from Tshekarda is done. There are also described the new taxa: genus Afrotaldycupes Kirejtshuk, gen. nov. with the type species: genus Taldycupes africanus Ponomarenko in Ponomarenko & Mostovski, 2005 [Afrotaldycupes africanus comb. nov.] and Afrotaldycupes lidgettoniensis (Ponomarenko in Ponomarenko & Mostovski, 2005), comb. nov. [Taldycupes]; genus Allophalerus Kirejtshuk, gen. nov. with the type species: Tetraphalerus aphaleratus Ponomarenko, 1969 [Allophalerus aphaleratus comb. nov.], and also with Allophalerus antiquus (Ponomarenko, 1964), comb. nov. [Tetraphalerus], Allophalerus bontsaganensis (Ponomarenko, 1997), comb. nov. [Tetraphalerus], Allophalerus incertus (Ponomarenko, 1969), comb. nov. [Tetraphalerus], Allophalerus latus (Tan, Ren et Shih, 2007), comb. nov. [Tetraphalerus], Allophalerus maximus (Ponomarenko, 1968), comb. nov. [Tetraphalerus], Allophalerus okhotensis (Ponomarenko, 1993), comb. nov. [Tetraphalerus], Allophalerus tenuipes (Ponomarenko, 1964), comb. nov. [Tetraphalerus], Allophalerus verrucosus (Ponomarenko, 1966), comb. nov. [Tetraphalerus]; genus Bukhkalius Kirejtshuk et Jarzembowski, gen. nov. with the type species: Tetraphalerus lindae Jarzembowski, Wang et Zheng, 2017 [Bukhkalius lindae comb. nov.]; genus Burmocoleus Kirejtshuk, gen. nov. with the type species: Burmocoleus prisnyi sp. nov. and Burmocoleus zhiyuani (Liu, Tan, Ślipiński, Jarzembowski, Wang, Ren et Pang, 2017), comb. nov. [Brochocoleus]; genus Cionocups Kirejtshuk, gen. nov. with the type species: Cionocups manukyani sp. nov.; genus Echinocups Kirejtshuk et Jarzembowski, gen. nov. with the type species: Notocupes neli Tihelka, Huang et Cai, 2020 [Echinocups neli comb. nov.], and also Echinocups ohmkuhnlei (Jarzembowski, Wang et Zheng, 2020), comb. nov. [Notocupes] and Echinocups denticollis (Jiang, Li, Song, Shi, Liu, Chen et Kong, 2020), comb. nov. [Notocupes]; genus Jarzembowskops Kirejtshuk, gen. nov. with the type species: Brochocoleus caseyi Jarzembowski, Wang et Zheng, 2016 [Jarzembowskops caseyi comb. nov.]; genus Lobanovia Kirejtshuk, gen. nov. with the type species: Simmondsia permiana Ponomarenko, 2013 [Lobanovia permiana comb. nov.]; genus Pintolla Kirejtshuk, gen. nov. with the type species: Kaltanicupes ponomarenkoi Pinto, 1987 [Pintolla ponomarenkoi comb. nov.]; genus Polyakius Kirejtshuk, gen. nov. with the type species: Polyakius alberti Kirejtshuk, sp. nov. and Polyakius pubescens Kirejtshuk, sp. nov.; Clessidromma zengi Kirejtshuk, sp. nov.; Cupes golovatchi Kirejtshuk, sp. nov.; Cupes legalovi Kirejtshuk, sp. nov.; Cupes lutzi Kirejtshuk, sp. nov.; Cupes nabozhenkoi Kirejtshuk, sp. nov.; Cupes wedmannae Kirejtshuk, sp. nov.; Mallecupes prokini Kirejtshuk, sp. nov. and Omma janetae Kirejtshuk, sp. nov. The new synonymy is established for the generic names Clessidromma Jarzembowski, Wang et Zheng, 2017 and Lepidomma Jarzembowski, Wang et Zheng, 2019, syn. nov. The rank of Cainomerga A. Kirejtshuk, Nel et P. Kirejtshuk, 2016 is elevated from subgeneric to generic. Also other new combinations are proposed: Cainomerga brevicornis (A. Kirejtshuk, Nel et P. Kirejtshuk, 2016), comb. nov. [Mesocupes], Cainomerga fraterna (A. Kirejtshuk, Nel et P. Kirejtshuk, 2016), comb. nov. [Mesocupes], Cainomerga immaculata (Piton, 1940: 194), comb. nov. [Zonabris, Mesocupes], Cainomerga palaeocenica (A. Kirejtshuk, Nel et P. Kirejtshuk, 2016), comb. nov. [Mesocupes], and Cainomerga ponti (A. Kirejtshuk, Nel et P. Kirejtshuk, 2016), comb. nov. [Mesocupes], Clessidromma tianae (Jarzembowski, Wang et Zheng, 2019), comb. nov. [Lepidomma], Diluticupes applanatus (Tan et Ren, 2009), comb. nov. [Brochocoleus], Diluticupes crowsonae (Jarzembowski, Yan, Wang et Zhang. 2013), comb. nov. [Brochocoleus], Diluticupes magnus (Tan et Ren, 2009), comb. nov. [Brochocoleus], Diluticupes minor (Ponomarenko, 2000), comb. nov. [Brochocoleus], Diluticupes validus (Tan et Ren, 2009), comb. nov. [Brochocoleus], Diluticupes yangshuwanziensis (Jarzembowski, Yan, Wang et Zhang. 2013), comb. nov. [Brochocoleus], Monticupes curtinervis (Tan, Ren et Shih, 2007), comb. nov. [Tetraphalerus], Monticupes decorosus (Tan, Wang, Ren et Yang, 2012), comb. nov. [Tetraphalerus], Odontomma sulcatum (Tan, Ren et Shih, 2007), comb. nov. [Brochocoleus], Omma ancistrodontum (Tan, Wang, Ren et Yang, 2012), comb. nov. [Pareuryomma], Omma grande (Ponomarenko, 1964), comb. nov. [Tetraphalerus], Omma longicolle (Ponomarenko, 1997), comb. nov. [Tetraphalerus], Pareuryomma angustum (Tan, Ren et Shich, 2007), comb. nov. [Brochocoleus], Pareuryomma magnum (Tan et Ren, 2009), comb. nov. [Brochocoleus], Zygadenia aliena (Tan et Ren, 2006), comb. nov. [Ovatocupes], Zygadenia baojiatunensis (Hong 1992), comb. nov. [Chengdecupes], Zygadenia brachycephala (Ponomarenko, 1994), comb. nov. [Notocupes], Zygadenia caduca (Ponomarenko, 1969), comb. nov. [Notocupes], Zygadenia caudata (Ponomarenko, 1966), comb. nov. [Notocupes], Zygadenia cellulosa (Ponomarenko, 1969), comb. nov. [Notocupes], Zygadenia crassa (Ponomarenko, 1969), comb. nov., [Notocupes], Zygadenia cyclodontus (Tan, Ren, Shih et Ge, 2006), comb. nov. [Amblomma, Notocupes], Zygadenia dischdes (Zhang, 1986), comb. nov. [Notocupes], Notocupes dundulaensis (Ponomarenko, 1994), comb. nov. [Notocupes], Zygadenia elegans (Ponomarenko, 1994), comb. nov. [Notocupes], Zygadenia epicharis (Tan, Ren et Liu, 2005), comb. nov. [Amblomma, Notocupes], Zygadenia eumeura (Tan, Ren et Liu, 2005), comb. nov. [Amblomma, Notocupes], Zygadenia excellens (Ponomarenko, 1966), comb. nov. [Notocupes], Zygadenia exigua (Ponomarenko, 1994), comb. nov. [Notocupes], Zygadenia foersteri (Ponomarenko, 1971), comb. nov. [Procarabus, Notocupes], Zygadenia homora (Lin, 1986), comb. nov. [Conexicoxa, Notocupes], Zygadenia issykkulensis (Ponomarenko, 1969), comb. nov. [Notocupes], Zygadenia jurassica (Hong 1983), comb. nov. [Chengdecupes], Zygadenia kezuoensis (Hong 1987), comb. nov. [Chengdecupes], Zygadenia khasurtuiensis (Strelnikova, 2019), comb. nov. [Notocupes], Zygadenia khetanensis (Ponomarenko, 1993), comb. nov. [Notocupes], Zygadenia kirghizica (Ponomarenko, 1969), comb. nov. [Notocupes], Zygadenia laeta (Lin, 1976), [Tetraphalerus], Zygadenia laiyangensis (Hong et Wang, 1990), comb. nov. [Forticupes, Notocupes], Zygadenia lapidaria (Ponomarenko, 1968), comb. nov. [Notocupes], Zygadenia laticella (Ponomarenko, 1969), comb. nov. [Notocupes], Zygadenia lata (Ponomarenko, 1969), comb. nov. [Notocupes], Zygadenia lenta (Ren, Lu, Guo et Ji, 1995), comb. nov. [Tetraphalerus], Zygadenia lini (Ponomarenko, Yan, Wang et Zhang, 2012), comb. nov. [Notocupes], Zygadenia longicollis (Ponomarenko, 1994), comb. nov. [Notocupes], Zygadenia ludongensis (Wang et Liu, 1996), comb. nov. [Notocupes], Zygadenia minuscula (Tan, Ren, Shih et Ge, 2006), comb. nov. [Amblomma, Notocupes], Zygadenia mongolica (Ponomarenko, 1994), comb. nov. [Notocupes], Zygadenia nigrimonticola (Ponomarenko, 1968), comb. nov. [Notocupes], Zygadenia oxypyga (Ponomarenko, 1969), comb. nov. [Notocupes], Zygadenia patula (Ponomarenko, 1985), comb. nov. [Notocupes], Zygadenia pingi (Ponomarenko et Ren, 2010), comb. nov. [Notocupes], Zygadenia porrecta (Tan, Ren, Shih et Ge, 2006), comb. nov. [Amblomma, Notocupes], Zygadenia protensa (Tan, Ren, Shih et Ge, 2006), comb. nov. [Amblomma, Notocupes], Zygodenia psilata (Tan, Ren et Liu, 2005), comb. nov. [Amblomma, Notocupes], , Zygadenia pulchra Ponomarenko, 1968, comb. nov. [Notocupes], Zygadenia reticulata (Oppenheim, 1888), comb. nov. [Procarabus, Notocupes], Notocupes rostrata (Ponomarenko, 1969), comb. nov. [Notocupes], Zygadenia rudis (Tan, Ren et Liu, 2005), comb. nov. [Amblomma, Notocupes], Zygadenia shiluoensis (Hong 1984), comb. nov. [Chengdecupes], Zygadenia sogutensis (Ponomarenko, 1969), comb. nov., Zygadenia stabilis (Tan, Ren et Liu, 2005), comb. nov. [Amblomma, Notocupes], Zygadenia tenuis (Ponomarenko, 1969), comb. nov. [Notocupes], Zygadenia tripartita (Oppenheim, 1888), comb. nov. [Procarabus, Notocupes], Zygadenia tuanwangensis (Hong et Wang, 1990), comb. nov. [Picticupes, Notocupes], Zygadenia valida (Lin, 1976), comb. nov. [Sinocupes, Notocupes], Zygadenia vitimensis (Ponomarenko, 1966), comb. nov. [Notocupes]. Full article

All 142 known species of Curculionoidea in Eocene amber are documented, including one species of Nemonychidae, 16 species of Anthribidae, six species of Belidae, 10 species of Rhynchitidae, 13 species of Brentidae, 70 species of Curcuionidae, two species of Platypodidae, and 24 species of Scolytidae. Oise amber has eight species, Baltic amber has 118 species, and Rovno amber has 16 species. Nine new genera and 18 new species are described from Baltic amber. Four new synonyms are noted: Palaeometrioxena Legalov, 2012, syn. nov. is synonymous with Archimetrioxena Voss, 1953; Paleopissodes weigangae Ulke, 1947, syn. nov. is synonymous with Electrotribus theryi Hustache, 1942; Electrotribus erectosquamata Rheinheimer, 2007, syn. nov. is synonymous with Succinostyphlus mroczkowskii Kuska, 1996; Protonaupactus Zherikhin, 1971, syn. nov. is synonymous with Paonaupactus Voss, 1953. Keys for Eocene amber Curculionoidea are given. There are the first records of Aedemonini and Camarotini, and genera Limalophus and Cenocephalus in Baltic amber. Full article

The fossil record of Tenebrionidae (excluding the Quartenary) is presented. In total, 122 fossil species, clearly belonging to the family, are known; some beetles were determined only to genus; 78 genera are listed in the fossil record, including 29 extinct genera. The great diversity of tenebrionids occurs in the Lower Cretaceous Lagerstätte of China (Yixian Formation), Middle Paleocene of France (Menat), Lower Eocene deposits of Germany (Geiseltal), Upper Eocene Baltic amber (Eastern Europe), Upper Eocene deposits of Florissant Formation (USA) and Miocene (Dominican amber). Tenebrionids of the following major lineages, including seven subfamilies, are currently known in the fossil record. These include the lagrioid branch (Lagriinae, Nilioninae), pimelioid branch (Pimeliinae), and tenebrioid branch (Alleculinae, Tenebrioninae, Diaperinae, Stenochiinae). The importance of the fossil record for evolutionary reconstructions and phylogenetic patterns is discussed. The oldest Jurassic and Early Cretaceous darkling beetles of the tenebrionoid branch consist of humid-adapted groups from the extant tribes Alleculini, Ctenopodiini (Alleculinae), and Alphitobiini (Tenebrioninae). Thus, paleontological evidence suggests that differentiation of the family started at least by the Middle Jurassic but does not indicate that xerophilic darkling beetles differentiated much earlier than mesophilic groups. Full article

The present work reveals plant and animal associates of 16 families and subfamilies of fossil beetles that have been preserved in amber from Mexico, the Dominican Republic, and Myanmar. The associates include mites, pseudoscorpions, spiders, insect parasites and predators, fungi, angiosperm parts, vertebrates, and nematodes. The presence of these fossil associates can be attributed to the rapid preservation of organisms in resin, thus maintaining natural associations almost “in situ”. Examples of present-day associations similar to those of the fossils show that specific behavioral patterns are often far more ancient than the specific lineages involved. Full article