Thysanoptera, commonly known as thrips, constitutes a relatively diminutive insect order within the superorder Thripida Fallen, 1814, with at least 6000 described extant species. Thripida has been ...divided into three clades: Panthysanoptera Nel et al., 2012, Lophioneurida Tillyard, 1921, and Westphalothripidesidae Nel et al., 2012, primarily based on wing venation patterns (Nel et al., 2012).
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.
A mating pair of Palaeoparasycorax globosus Stebner et al., 2015 from the mid-Cretaceous Burmese amber is illustrated and described. The male is redescribed, and the female genitalia of this species ...is described for the first time. This discovery allows for a better understanding of this fossil sycoracines characteristics and further demonstrates the bioinclusion richness of the mid-Cretaceous Burmese amber. A list of all Cretaceous Psychodidae is given.
We here report a new elateroid, Anoeuma lawrencei Li, Kundrata and Cai gen. et sp. nov., from mid-Cretaceous Burmese amber. Though superficially similar to some soft-bodied archostematans, Anoeuma ...could be firmly placed in the polyphagan superfamily Elateroidea based on the hind wing venation. Detailed morphological comparisons between extant elateroids and the Cretaceous fossils suggest that the unique character combination does not fit with confidence into any existing soft-bodied elateroid group, although some characters indicate possible relationships between Anoeuma and Omalisinae. Our discovery of this new lineage further demonstrates the past diversity and morphological disparity of soft-bodied elateroids.
Fibroblast-like synoviocytes (FLSs) are the major effector cells that lead to rheumatoid arthritis (RA) synovitis and joint destruction. Our previous studies showed that Sonic Hedgehog (SHH) ...signaling pathway is involved in aberrant activation of RA-FLSs and inhibition of SHH pathway decreases proliferation and migration of RA-FLSs. The objective of this study was to investigate if the SHH pathway mediates proliferation and migration of RA-FLSs
the mitogen-activated protein kinases/extracellular signal-regulated kinases (MAPK/ERK) signaling pathway. SHH signaling was studied by using SHH agonist (Purmorphamine) and antagonist (Cyclopamine) targeting the Smoothened (SMO) in FLSs. U0126-EtOH was used to inhibit the MAPK/ERK signaling pathway. The phosphorylation of ERK 1/2 (p-ERKl/2) was examined by western blot. Cell viability was detected using cell proliferation and cytotoxicity kit-8 (CCK8), and cell cycle distribution and proliferating cells were evaluated by the flow cytometry. Cell migration was examined by Transwell assay. Results showed that, compared with the control group, Purmorphamine increased the levels of p-ERK1/2 in concentration-and time-dependent manners (
< 0.01). Co-treated with Purmorphamine and U0126-EtOH or Cyclopamine both decreased the levels of p-ERK1/2 (
< 0.05). RA-FLSs treated with Purmorphamine resulted in alteration of cell cycle distribution, increasing of proliferating cells, cell viability, and migration cells compared to controls (
< 0.01). However, the above phenomenon can be abolished by U0126-EtOH (
< 0.05). The findings suggest that SHH signaling pathway mediates proliferation and migration of RA-FLSs
MAPK/ERK pathway and may contribute to progression of RA. Targeting SHH signaling may have a therapeutic potential in patients with RA.
The Sternorrhyncha, which comprise about 18,700 described recent species, is a suborder of the Hemiptera, one of big five most diverse insect orders. In the modern fauna, these tiny phytophages ...comprise insects of great ecological and economic importance, like aphids (Aphidomorpha), scale insects (Coccidomorpha), whiteflies (Aleyrodomorpha) and psyllids (Psylloidea). Their evolutionary history can be traced back to the Late Carboniferous, but the early stages of their evolution and diversification is poorly understood, with two known extinct groups-Pincombeomorpha and Naibiomorpha variously placed in classifications and relationships hypotheses. Most of the recent Sternorrhyncha groups radiated rapidly during the Cretaceous. Here we report the new finding of very specialised sternorrhynchans found as inclusions in mid-Cretaceous amber from Kachin state (northern Myanmar), which represent another extinct lineage within this hemipteran suborder. These fossils, proposed to be placed in a new infraorder, are revealed to be related to whiteflies and psyllids. We present, also for the first time, the results of phylogenetic analyses covering extinct and extant lineages of the Sternorrhyncha.
A second blattoid species, Cercoula brachyptera gen. et sp. nov. is described from Cretaceous amber. It is placed in Blattoidea because of the combination of bivalvate female subgenital plate and ...type-A forefemoral spination. Its relatively small size, and small, slender, pod-like cerci, suggest that the new species is a stem member of Blattoidea. Cercoula brachyptera is the first fossil of brachypterous cockroach. Since wing reduction might be a response of cockroaches to the arid environment, C. brachyptera might indicate an arid microenvironment or a dry season, or even contribute to the possibility of an arid palaeoclimate of the Myanmar amber locality.
A new species of the extant staphylinid genus Vicelva Moore & Legner, V. rasilis sp. nov., is reported from mid‐Cretaceous Kachin amber of northern Myanmar. Vicelva rasilis is distinguishable from ...extant members of Vicelva by the smoother dorsal surface of head, pronotum and elytra, less prominent median projection of clypeus, unnotched mesal edge of mandibles, semiglabrous antennomere 6, and longer tarsomere 1. The pollen‐containing coprolite attached to the beetle and the crystals within the beetle body provide valuable information about the biology and taphonomy of the fossil.
A new species of the extant staphylinid genus Vicelva Moore & Legner, V. rasilis sp. nov., is reported from mid‐Cretaceous Kachin amber of northern Myanmar. The pollen‐containing coprolite attached to the beetle and the crystals within the beetle body provide valuable information about the biology and taphonomy of the fossil.
Typical cockroaches are flat, broad, with large pronotum and wings covering the body. This conserved morphotype dates back to the Carboniferous, during which the ancestral cockroaches, or roachoids, ...originated. On the other hand, the ovipositor of cockroaches gradually reduced during the Mesozoic, coupled with a major shift of reproductive strategy. By the Cretaceous, long external ovipositors became rare, most cockroaches used very short or even hidden internal ovipositors to fabricate egg cases (oothecae), which is an innovation for egg protection. Here, we describe two cockroaches from mid-Cretaceous Myanmar amber:
gen. et sp. nov. (Ensiferoblattidae fam. nov.) and
gen. et sp. nov. They are slim, elongate, fusiform, with longitudinal pronotum, and have long external ovipositors. The combination of these traits represents a unique morphotype, which resembles crickets and katydids (Ensifera) more than general cockroaches.
and
may be arboreal, feeding on and/or laying eggs into certain angiosperms that newly emerged. Their open habit causes latent impairment to viability, and may contribute to their extinction. These new taxa are the youngest members of the ancient, extinct group of cockroaches, namely Eoblattodea, which are characterized by long ovipositors. We speculate that the extinction of certain gymnosperm hosts almost ended the 200-My triumph of Eoblattodea. Despite an attempt to adapt to angiosperm hosts,
,
and suchlike cockroaches as an evolutionary dead end failed to save Eoblattodea from extinction. The lack of protection for eggs (maternal care in particular) might accelerate the extinction of Eoblattodea as a whole.
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