Leptoconops (Diptera: Ceratopogonidae), the Earliest Extant Lineage of Biting Midge, Discovered in 120–122 Million-Year-Old Lebanese Amber

Abstract

As predicted by phylogenetic patterns, the genus Leptoconops Skuse is recorded for the first time from Lower Cretaceous Lebanese amber, dated at 120–122 million years. Two species are described as new: L. amplificatus, known from 1 male and 11 females, and L. antiquus, known from 2 females. These likely represent the earliest lineage(s) within the genus and are placed in a new subgenus, Palaeoconops. Previous analysis of Lebanese amber Ceratopogonidae (22 species, 126 specimens) indicated that these specimens represent a past community with high species diversity but with a low abundance of individual species. Leptoconops amplificatus is the first of 24 species of Ceratopogonidae known from this deposit to have intraspecific associations in a single piece of amber, likely reflecting their restriction to ancient beach habitats.