Skip to main content
ARS Home » Northeast Area » Beltsville, Maryland (BARC) » Beltsville Agricultural Research Center » Sustainable Perennial Crops Laboratory » Research » Publications at this Location » Publication #376861
Research Project: Develop Pest Management Technologies and Strategies to Control the Coffee Berry Borer

Location: Sustainable Perennial Crops Laboratory

Title: A new genus of Apsilocephalidae (Diptera) in mid-Cretaceous Burmese amber

Author
item POINAR, GEORGE - Oregon State University
item Vega, Fernando

Submitted to: Biosis: Biological Systems
Publication Type: Peer Reviewed Journal
Publication Acceptance Date: 2/10/2021
Publication Date: 3/5/2021
Citation: Poinar, G., Vega, F.E. 2021. A new genus of Apsilocephalidae (Diptera) in mid-Cretaceous Burmese amber. Biosis: Biological Systems. 2:1–7.

Interpretive Summary: A new fly genus and species is described from Burmese amber. The mouthparts and the structure of the antennae are unique features of the fossil and it appears that nectar could have been obtained from angiosperm flowers even though the sharp-tipped labrum suggests that the fossil also had predatory habits. The morphological features of the fossil add to the diversity of flies and will be of interest to entomologists.

Technical Abstract: A new genus and species of stiletto flies (Diptera: Asiloidea: Therevidae) is described from Burmese amber. The basic body shape, wing venation and additional features of Cascomixticus tubuliferous gen. et sp. n. place the fossil in the subfamily Agapophytinae. The long proboscis with sensory papillae on the labellum and the structure of the antennae, with the pedicel longer than the scape, are unique features of the fossil. While the long, tubular hypopharynx indicates that nectar could have been obtained from angiosperm flowers, the sharp-tipped labrum suggests that the fossil also had predatory habits and may have been pursuing a small midge that is also preserved in the amber.