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The present study describes a primitive kissing bug (Hemiptera: Reduviidae: Triatominae) in mid-Cretaceous amber from northern Myanmar. The fossil, which is described as Paleotriatoma metaxytaxa gen. et sp. nov., contains a predominance of features of the Triatominae as well as some characters of the Reduviinae and is considered an intermediate fossil representing an early progenitor of the Triatominae. Based on the present distribution of the Triatominae and recent studies indicating that Burmese amber fossils could have originated in Gondwana, it is proposed that Paleotriatoma metaxytaxa is a Gondwanan lineage that evolved in the mid-Cretaceous. The specimen contains developing trypanosome flagellates in its hindgut, suggesting that early triatomines could have been vectoring pathogenic protozoa to vertebrates some 100 Ma.

A new genus and species of Short-winged Flower Beetle, Furcalabratum burmanicum gen. et sp. nov. (Coleoptera: Kateretidae), is described from mid-Cretaceous Myanmar amber. The new genus is characterized by its small size (2.6 mm in length), prognathous head with extended forked mandibles, porrect forked labrum, 11- segmented antenna terminated with a loose 3-segmented glabrous club, beaded chain around the rim of the compound eye, punctures on the head and pronotum, elytra with striae and irregular transverse grooves, ridged femora, tarsal formula 5-5-5 with membranous appendages on the first three tarsomeres, claws with a prominent basal tooth and abbreviated elytra exposing the terminal 3 tergites.

A new genus and species of aphids, Tanyaulus caudisetula gen. et sp. nov. (Hemiptera: Aphidoidea: Burmitaphidae), is described from mid- Cretaceous Myanmar amber. Autapomorphies for the new genus are stub-like hind wings, 7-segmented antenna, long rostrum equal to body length, 4 veins departing from the main vein, cubital veins distinctly separated, with a very short, curved basal proximal cubitus, one-branched M vein with distal fork arched at the base, distinct claval folds at wing bases and caudal protuberance with extended setae. The new fossil adds to our knowledge of the morphological diversity of Mesozoic Aphidoidea.

A new tribe, genus and species of weevil, Rhamphophorus legalovii gen. et sp. nov., Rhamphophorini tribe nov. (Coleoptera: Curculionoidea; Nemonychidae: Cimberidinae) is described from mid-Cretaceous Burmese amber of northern Myanmar. The new taxon is characterized by an elongate head, extremely long, curved rostrum, endodont mandibles, 11-segmented, laterally attached antennae, five separate truncate tarsomeres on all legs, an antennal cleaner on the apex of the profemur, a 1-2-2 tibial spur formula and paired carina extending the length of the elytra. The fossil provides us with previously unknown morphological features that existed on mid-Cretaceous weevils.

A new weevil, Paleopegorhinus micrommatus gen. et sp. nov. from mid-Cretaceous Burmese amber is described in the tribe Chilecarini (Ithyceridae: Chilecarinae). The new genus differs from Arariperhinus in possessing long temples shorter than the eye diameter, precoxal portions of the prosternum longer than the length of the procoxa, postcoxal portions of the prosternum slightly shorter than the length of the procoxa, and smaller body size. It can be distinguished from Petropsis by the long temples, pre- and postcoxal portions of the prosternum, and smaller body size. This is the first record of the subfamily Chilecarinae in Burmese amber. A key to the fossil genera of the tribe Chilecarini is provided.

X-ray microcomputed tomography was used to reveal putative trematode metacercariae (Platyhelminthes: Digenea) located in cysts positioned at the base of the femora in a 100 myr agamid lizard preserved in Myanmar amber. The cysts are characterized and compared with encysted metacercariae recovered from a similar location in an extant Anolis lizard. This discovery provides evidence that lizards were serving as intermediate hosts of trematodes some 100 Ma.

A new weevil, Aepyceratus hyperochus gen. et sp. nov., Aepyceratinae subfam. nov., is described from mid-Cretaceous Burmese amber. The new subfamily differs from the previous Mesozoic subfamilies Brenthorrhininae, Eobelinae, Cretonemonychinae and Paleocartinae by the short lateral pronotal carina, stark convex eyes and basal antennal insertion. From the subfamilies Rhinorhynchinae and Cimberidinae, it is distinguished by the short lateral pronotal carina, exodontous mandibles and basal antennal insertion. The new subfamily differs from the subfamily Idiomacerinae by the distinct clypeolabral suture, elliptical protruding eyes, short antennomere 1, wide tarsi, short lateral carina on the pronotum, and exodontous mandibles.

A new family of aphids, the Isolitaphidae fam. nov. (Hemiptera: Aphidoidea), is described for the new genus and species, Isolitaphis prolatantennus gen. et sp nov., in mid-Cretaceous amber from Myanmar (Burma). The new species is compared with previously described Mesozoic Aphidoidea, including members of the families Parvaverrucosidae and Burmitaphididae that were described earlier from Myanmar amber. The new taxon can be separated from all previously described extant and extinct Aphidoidea by its 10-segmented antenna, the presence of an ovipositor, siphons, a three-branched M vein and forked C vein. The new species adds to the morphological diversity of Mesozoic Aphidoidea.

An exotic wingless female insect in mid-Cretaceous Myanmar amber is described as Aethiocarenus burmanicus sp. et gen. nov. in the order Aethiocarenodea ord. nov. and family Aethiocarenidae fam. nov. The distinguishing feature of Aethiocarenus burmanicus sp. et gen. nov. is its unique head, the dorsum of which is shaped like an isosceles right triangle with the hypotenuse at the top and vertex positioned at the base of the neck. While insects with triangular-shaped heads are common today, the hypotenuse of the triangle is always located at the base of the head and attached to the neck, with the vertex at the apex of the head. Other features of the fossil are the long narrow, flat body, long slender legs, especially the hind pair that are twice the length of the abdomen, lack of wings, protruding eyes, paired ocelli, secretory glands located on the dorsum of the neck and swollen abdomen bearing paired segmented cerci.

An actinomorphic staminate flower in mid-Cretaceous Myanmar amber is described as Cascolaurus burmitis gen. et sp. nov. in the family Lauraceae. The fossil most closely resembles extant unisexual flowers of the genus Litsea Lam. in the Tribe Laureae, however the size difference of the two whorls of perianth members, 3 whorls of tetrasporangiate anthers with apical valves arranged in 2 rows with introse dehiscence in whorls 1 and 2 and extrose dehiscence in whorl 3, plus the extremely large staminal glands, distinguish the fossil from extinct and extant genera of Lauraceae. Cascolaurus burmitis gen. et sp. nov. is the first Cretaceous Lauraceae flower in amber and the best preserved of all known Cretaceous flowers of that family.

A strange wingless female parasitic wasp from mid-Cretaceous Burmese amber is described as Aptenoperissus burmanicus sp. et gen. nov. in the new family Aptenoperissidae (Hymenoptera, Ceraphronoidea). Diagnostic characters of the female Aptenoperissus burmanicus sp. et gen. nov. include its wingless, streamlined and heavily sclerotized body lacking any apparent trace of a wasp waist, and geniculate antenna composed of a long, thin, stick-like scape, standard pedicel and 22 uniform flagellomeres. Also the body has 9 externally visible segments with no evidence of segment fusion implying the presence of a completely hidden segment. All tibiae have paired spurs and the hind femora are saltatory and incrassate. The double fore-tibial spur combined with unquestionable diagnostic features of Apocrita (primarily an internalized needle-like thin and acute ovipositor) suggest placement within the superfamily Ceraphronoidea s.str. with the Maimetshidae as a sister group of the crown Ceraphronoidea, composed of the Ceraphronidae, Megaspilidae, Stigmaphronidae, and Radiophronidae. The fossil is hypothesized to live semicryptically on the forest floor or tree trunk and to parasitize immature holometabolous insects. Diagnostic features of a respective male are suggested to test the hypothesized position of the new taxon.

Two new species of toad bugs (Nerthra bichelata sp. n. and Gelastocoris curiosus sp. n.) (Hemiptera: Gelastocoridae) are described from Myanmar amber. Diagnostic characters of N. bichelata sp. n. are the large paired ocelli, subequal claws on protarsus that is fused with the protibia, slender profemur bearing two short, prominent ventral teeth, a large spherical terminal antennal segment and an elongate terminal segment of the rostrum. Diagnostic characters for G. curiosus sp. n. are paired, equal claws on the single-segmented, articulated protarsus, lateral margin of pronotum with a triangular protrusion and relatively narrow profemora with a series of broad transverse thickenings on the apical half of the ventral surface. These are the first descriptions of Gelastocoridae in amber and the first record of Gelastocorinae in Asia.

The first jumping plant-louse from mid-Cretaceous Burmese amber is described as Mirala burmanica gen. et sp. nov. The absence of modified hind legs places the new taxon near the Mesozoic Liadopsyllidae (1 genus, 12 species) and Malmopsyllidae (4 genera, 4 species). The latter is defined by the presence of a pterostigma in the fore wing but is otherwise morphologically heterogeneous. Mirala has a pterostigma but shares also characters with Liadopsyllidae. It is concluded that Malmopsyllidae is polyphyletic and following synonymy is proposed: Liadopsyllidae = Malmopsyllidae syn. nov. Mirala differs from the other five Mesozoic psylloid genera in the straight, subparallel veins Rs, M and Cu1a, the unforked vein M in the fore wing and the straight vein Cu1b which is directed toward the wing base. A key is provided for the identification of the genera of Liadopsyllidae. The new taxon described here represents only the third specimen of Liadopsyllidae preserved in amber, and the fourth species from the Cretaceous (the majority being Jurassic). A member of the plant family Lauraceae is discussed as a possible host plant for the psyllid lineage in Burmese amber.

Rickettsial-like cells are reported from the body cavity of the Myanmar amber larval tick, Cornupalpatum burmanicum (Ixodida: Ixodidae). These cells are characterized and described in a new collective fossil genus erected for putative rickettsia in fossil ticks. The size and shape of the fossil cells resemble those of present day members of the Rickettsiaceae, many of which occur in the body cavity of present day ticks.

A new weevil, Periosomerus tanyorhynchus gen. et sp. nov., from mid-Cretaceous Burmese amber is described in the tribe Abrocarini. The new genus differs from the related extant genus, Abrocar, in the widened femora, strong bilobed tarsomere 3 and longer antennomere 1. This is first record of the tribe Abrocarini in Burmese amber.

Two Early Cretaceous Burmese amber cockroaches contained protists related to mutualistic flagellates occurring in extant Cryptocercus cockroaches and lower termites. The fossil protists are described as Devescovites proteus Poinar n. gen., n. sp. (Parabasalia: Trichomonadida: Devescovinidae), Paleotrichomones burmanicus Poinar n. gen., n. sp. (Parabasalia: Trichomonida), Burmanymphus cretacea Poinar n. gen., n. sp. (Hypermastigia: Trichonymphida: Burmanymphidae n. fam.) and Oxymonas gigantea Poinar, n. sp. Additional putative protists are also illustrated. Evolutionary implications of this discovery are discussed.

Palaeoleptus burmanicus gen. et sp. nov. (Hemiptera: Leptopodomorpha: Palaeoleptidae fam. nov.) is described from Early Cretaceous Burmese amber. The fossil is characterized by nearly completely coreaceous wings with only a small membranous area at the distal tip, and a unique wing venation consisting of eight closed cells, including four obliquely orientated toward the embolar wing margin and two large vertically-positioned cells extending nearly to the apical wing margin. Additional characters are large, compound eyes, three pairs of cephalic trichobothria, four antennal segments all similar in texture, spines on the profemur, ocelli positioned on a tubercle and a rostrum extending to the mesocoxae, with the second segment bearing four pairs of spines. The female fossil contains an asymmetrical subgenital plate orientated toward the left side of the body, indicating a side-by-side mating behavior as occurs in extant Leptopodomorpha.

Palaeocryptorhynchus burmanus gen. et sp. nov. (Coleoptera: Curculionidae: Cryptorhynchinae) is described from Cretaceous Burmese amber. The fossil is notable for its unique femora interlocking mechanism consisting of a flange on the basal third of the profemur that inserts into a groove along the basal portion of the mesofemur and the elongate, spatulate rostrum.