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Two new genera and species of Ithonidae, i.e. Stictopolystoechotes sparsulus Gao, Xu et Wang gen. et sp. nov. and Pycnopolystoechotes striatus Gao, Xu et Wang gen. et sp. nov., are described from the Middle Jurassic Jiulongshan Formation, Inner Mongolia, China. The two new genera can be assigned to the Polystoechotes genus-group of Ithonidae by the combination of following characters: elongated forewing, Sc and RA fused distally, crossveins in radical sector sparse except for the gradate series, and simple CuP branches. The known wing markings among the Jurassic Polystoechotes genus-group were outlined, which suggested the diversification of wing markings was possibly positively associated with the species radiation of this lineage during this period. Moreover, a key to fossil genera of the Polystoechotes genus-group was provided. LSID: urn:lsid:zoobank.org:pub:CAEEFF67-876D-4709-BE4A-18F5AB04B01D Stictopolystoechotes: urn:lsid:zoobank.org:act:666ED6B2-B132-4CF4-BFB0-ED6B86EB30F4 Stictopolystoechotes sparsulus: urn:lsid:zoobank.org:act:6C96432B-205F-4F39-A647-3E0048169A92 Pycnopolystoechotes: urn:lsid:zoobank.org:act:1D1343DF-844E-4243-BAB9-242F6232EEBF Pycnopolystoechotes striatus: urn:lsid:zoobank.org:act:B4EFBE6B-5011-4103-A65F-77D65BEC0B85 [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Neuroptera, as a small relic group of Insecta undergoing a rapid species diversification during the Mesozoic Era, is known by diverse extinct endemic lineages preserved as impression fossils and in amber. The current understanding of Mesozoic neuropterans′ diversity has mainly focused on the adults, because the contemporaneous larvae have been fairly rare especially for the Jurassic lacewings. Herein, a new giant lacewing larva, Natator giganteus gen. et sp. nov., is described from the Middle Jurassic Daohugou Beds of China. The remarkable larva is characterized by its impressively large body size, distinctively elongated cervix, and presence of swimming hairs on legs, which provide direct evidence to reveal an aquatic habit for the Jurassic lacewing larva. The morphological analysis indicates this giant larva would have probably inhabited the benthic environments of Jurassic montane rivers and streams. In addition, its morphological specialization suggests that it might have adopted an ambush predation strategy to catch its prey. The finding enhances our knowledge of the species diversity and morphological plasticity for the Jurassic lacewing larvae, and reveals that the aquatic lineages of Neuroptera exhibited dramatically structural and ecological convergence across the evolutionary process. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Mastotermitidae, the first-diverging extant family of termites, has only one relic extant species; however, this family had greater richness during the Mesozoic and Cenozoic eras. Fossil termites from the Cretaceous provide information on the early evolution of termites and the transition between extinct families. Herein, two new Mastotermitidae species found in upper Cretaceous (Cenomanian) Kachin amber are reported. One is a female imago described as Angustitermes reflexus gen. et sp. nov. and assigned to the subfamily Mastotermitinae. The other is Mastotermes reticulatus sp. nov., which is described from an isolated forewing. With the comparison especially of the antenna and venation, these new mastotermitids further increase our knowledge of the diversity and morphology of Mastotermitidae during the Mesozoic. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

One new genus Evacuxyela gen. nov., with two new species, Evacuxyela conflata sp. nov. and Evacuxyela hsiaoae sp. nov., is described and illustrated on the basis of two fossils from the Middle Jurassic Jiulongshan Formation of northeastern China. The new genus Evacuxyela gen. nov. is placed in the subfamily Macroxyelinae Ashmead, 1898, tribe Angaridyellini of Xyelidae, mainly based on veins C and R connected by a bridge next to pterostigma. The two new fossil species are similar, but differentiated by degree of expansion for hind femur, sclerotisation of pterostigma and venational details. In addition, the well-preserved spurs and expanded femora of hind legs provide important morphological characters to enhance our understanding of Xyelidae. ZooBank ID (LSID): Evacuxyela: Evacuxyela conflata: Evacuxyela hsiaoae: [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]