The blueprint of the Amphiesmenoptera – Tarachoptera, a new order of insects from Burmese amber (Insecta, Amphiesmenoptera)

Abstract

Abstract. Based on a total of 14 inclusions from Burmese amber the new insect order Tarachoptera is established. The family Tarachocelidae previously described from Burmese amber and then placed in Amphiesmenoptera incertae sedis is assigned to this new order. The genus Kinitocelis gen. nov. is established to accommodate three new fossil species: K. hennigi spec. nov., K. divisinotata spec. nov. and K. brevicostata spec. nov. The new genus differs from Tarachocelis gen. nov. by the absence of androconial scales on the wings and the loss of Cu2 in the forewings. The species are described in detail and the critical characters are illustrated by line drawings and photos. Both males and females were described. The species can be distinguished by traits in the wing venation. The new order Tarachoptera is placed in the superorder Amphiesmenoptera based on the presence of seven amphiesmenopteran apomorphies and nine tarachopteran apomorphies. Apomorphic characters of Trichoptera and Lepidoptera could not be disclosed, which suggests an independent origin and evolution from an amphiesmenopteran ancestor which was not the ancestor of the TrichopteraLepidoptera clade. The species of Tarachoptera are tiny insects with a wing span of 2.3-4.5 mm but highly specialized according to their aberrant morphology. Aspects of the presumed life history of the adults were deduced from some of the derived morphological traits that could be interpreted as adaptations to a highly structured micro-environment.

A Review of Necrotauliids from the Triassic/Jurassic of England (Trichoptera: Necrotauliidae)

“…Other authors agree that the haustellum as found in Trichoptera is the only unequivocal autapomorphy of adult Trichoptera [25]. A similar structure is found in in the non-Glossatan Lepidoptera and is assumed to be present in Tarachoptera, but it is small and not visible externally [26]. The haustellum has not previously been reported in any specimen of necrotauliid; coupled with the similarity of wing venation with other basal amphiesmenopterans it has been difficult to say with any degree of certainty whether Necrotauliidae do belong to Trichoptera [18,20] or are stemamphiesmenopterans [12,14].…”

A Triassic-Jurassic window into the evolution of Lepidoptera

“…Our survey of extant scale types and a compilation of the principal morphological characteristics ( Table 1A ) suggest that most hexapods, other than Lepidoptera, may be excluded as a source for the fossil scales ( Table 1B ). There is also little affinity with the scale types of the extinct neuropteran family Kalligrammatidae ( 11 ) and Tarachoptera, a recently proposed extinct order of the Amphiesmenoptera ( 12 ).…”

Fossil scales illuminate the early evolution of lepidopterans and structural colors

“…Tarachoptera is a newly erected stem group of Amphiesmenoptera (which also includes Lepidoptera and Trichoptera) that potentially provides important information on the origin and groundplan of wing scales in Lepidoptera ( 47 ). Using optical microscopy, TEM, and CLSM, we examined the wing scales of two newly discovered tarachopteran specimens from mid-Cretaceous Burmese amber.…”

“… ( A ) Simplified phylogeny of Amphiesmenoptera ( 47 , 55 , 56 ). ( B ) Paleogeographic distribution of Jurassic lepidopterans on a Middle Jurassic (approximately 170 Ma ago) geographic map ( 60 ).…”