| Arostropsis | |
|---|---|
 | |
Scientific classification  | |
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Arthropoda |
| Class: | Insecta |
| Order: | Coleoptera |
| Family: | Curculionidae |
| Genus: | † Arostropsis |
| Species: | †A. groehni |
| Binomial name | |
| †Arostropsis groehni Yunakov & Kirejtshuk, 2011 | |
Arostropsis is an extinct genus of broad-nosed weevil in the beetle family Curculionidae known from an Upper Eocene fossil found in Europe. The genus contains a single described species, Arostropsis groehni. [1]
Arostropsis is known only from a single fossil, the holotype, specimen number "C 7968, GPIH 4516", which is housed in the fossil collection of the Geology and Palaeontology Institute and Museum, part of the University of Hamburg. The specimen is composed of a fully complete adult male broad-nosed weevil which has been preserved as an inclusion in a transparent chunk of Baltic amber. [1] Baltic amber dates to between forty and forty-five million years old [2] and the holotype specimen was found in the Prussian Formation. The Arostropsis holotype was recovered from an amber quarry in Jantarny near the city of Kaliningrad along the Baltic Sea coast in Russia. [1] The fossil was first studied by paleoentomologists Nikolai N. Yunakov and Alexander G. Kirejtshuk, both of the Russian Academy of Sciences. [1] Yunakov and Kirejtshuk's 2011 type description of the new genus and species was published in the online journal ZooKeys . [1] The genus name Arostropsis was coined by Yunakov and Kirejtshuk as a combination of two Greek words rōstron meaning "beak or snout" and opsis which means "resembling (something)" in combination with the negative prefix a. The specific epithet groehni was coined in honor of Carsten Gröhn who first collected the holotype specimen. [1] Arostropsis is one of a number of broad-nosed weevils described from specimens in Baltic amber. As of the 2011 Yunakov and Kirejtshuk paper, at least eleven species had been described or suggested by paleoentomologists. [1]
The Arostropsis male adult has an overall coloration which appears to be metallic green and that is caused by numerous small lanceolate scales coating the legs and sides of the body. The male has an elongated body which is 6.4 millimetres (0.25 in) in length, 1.3 millimetres (0.051 in) tall, and with an overall width of 1.8 millimetres (0.071 in). The rostrum is approximately one and a half times as long as it is wide and is noted for being narrower than the rest of the head. Only the left mandible is still present and attached to the head and the tip section has a distinct curve and the mandible as a whole has a knife like shape. [1] The legs are elongated and with the protibiae hosting a row of slender spines. The tip of the tibia, called the corbel, is open, lacking a second row of spines. Arostropsis is distinguished from the modern genera of Naupactini that have open corbels by the narrow rostrom and morphology of the antennae. [1]
The Baltic region is home to the largest known deposit of amber, called Baltic amber or succinite. It dates from 44 million years ago. It has been estimated that these forests created more than 100,000 tons of amber. Today, more than 90% of the world's amber comes from Kaliningrad Oblast of Russia. It is a major source of income for the region; the local Kaliningrad Amber Combine extracted 250 tonnes of it in 2014, 400 tonnes in 2015.
Styporaphidia is a genus of snakefly, belonging to the extinct family Mesoraphidiidae, containing up to two species, the type species Styporaphidia magia and tentatively Styporaphidia? hispanica. The genus was named from the Greek stypos meaning "stem" or "stump" and Raphidia, the type genus for, and most often used as, a stem for generic names in the order Raphidioptera. The species name of S. magia is from the Greek word mageia meaning "magic" while the species name for S.? hispanica is from the Latin Hispania meaning "Spain" in reference to the type locality of the species.
Baltimartyria is an extinct genus of primitive metallic moths in the family Micropterigidae. The genus is solely known from the Early Eocene Baltic amber deposits in the Baltic Sea region of Europe. The genus currently contains two described species, Baltimartyria proavitella and Baltimartyria rasnitsyni.
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Diochus electrus is an extinct species of rove beetle in genus Diochus, the only definitive fossil species in subfamily Staphylininae. The species is known only from the middle Eocene, Lutetian stage Baltic amber found in the Blaue Erde deposits, Baltic region, Northern Europe.
Amarantoraphidia is an extinct genus of snakefly in the family Mesoraphidiidae. The genus is solely known from Early Cretaceous, Albian age, fossil amber found in Spain. Currently the genus comprises only a single species Amarantoraphidia ventolina.
Alavaraphidia is an extinct genus of snakefly in the family Mesoraphidiidae. The genus is solely known from an Early Cretaceous, Albian age, fossil amber found in Spain. Currently, the genus comprises a single species, Alavaraphidia imperterrita.
Cantabroraphidia is an extinct genus of snakefly in the family Mesoraphidiidae. The genus is solely known from fossil amber found in Cantabria, northern Spain, dating to the Albian age of the Early Cretaceous Period. Currently the genus comprises a single species Cantabroraphidia marcanoi.
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Deinodryinus? aptianus is an extinct species of Deinodryinus in the wasp family Dryinidae. The species is solely known from a Cretaceous fossil found in Mongolia.
Deinodryinus areolatus is an extinct species of Deinodryinus in the wasp family Dryinidae. The species is solely known from an Eocene fossil found in the Baltic region.
Deinodryinus velteni is an extinct species of Deinodryinus in the wasp family Dryinidae. The species is known solely from an Eocene fossil found in the Baltic region.
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Tytthodiplatys is an extinct genus of earwig in the family Diplatyidae known from a Cretaceous fossil found in Myanmar. The genus contains a single described species, Tytthodiplatys mecynocercus.
Protostephanus is an extinct genus of crown wasp in the Hymenoptera family Stephanidae known from an Eocene fossil found in the United States of America. The genus contains a single described species, Protostephanus ashmeadi placed in the stephanid subfamily Stephaninae.
Prostylotermes is an extinct genus of termite in the isopteran family Stylotermitidae known from two Eocene fossils found in India. The genus contains a single described species, Prostylotermes kamboja.
Zophotermes is an extinct genus of termite in the Isoptera family Rhinotermitidae known from two Eocene fossils found in India. The genus contains a single described species, Zophotermes ashoki placed in the subfamily Prorhinotermitinae.
Electrostephanus is an extinct genus of crown wasp in the hymenopteran family Stephanidae, and is the only genus placed in the subfamily Electrostephaninae. The genus contains four described species, E. brevicornis, E. neovenatus, E. janzeni, and E. petiolatus, placed in two subgenera E. (Electrostephanus) and E. (Electrostephanodes). Electrostephanus is known from several middle Eocene fossils which have been found in Europe.
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