Meganeura n°1
Palaeoentomological newsletter

Editorial
Welcome to the first issue of the palaeoentomological newsletter Meganeura, published by the European Science Foundation (ESF). The idea for this newsletter came from the Scientific Coordination Committee of the ESF Network on Fossil Insects, which was launched in autumn 1996. 
During the first meeting of this committee, held in Strasbourg in December of that same year, the possibility of producing a Network newsletter that would build on the strengths of the already existing newsletter Inclusion–Wrostek, produced by Dr. Koteja in Poland, was discussed.  Broad plans were developed to produce a “new” newsletter, edited jointly by Drs. Koteja and Martínez-Delclòs (Spain), and technically produced and distributed by the ESF Secretariat.  
As work on details of this scheme progressed it became clear that some modification to the original outline might be justified in order to satisfy the needs of the Network without imposing changes which might not be considered advantageous for the already successful Inclusion - Wrostek.  The Coordination Committee therefore agreed to the following:
•	Inclusion - Wrostek a valuable, specialised newsletter for and produced by all those interested in amber fossils, would remain as it is, edited and produced by Dr. Koteja.
•	A completely new Network newsletter would be produced.  This newsletter would include contributions on all the various aspects in the broad field of fossil insects.   A special section could be allocated to high-lighting selected items from Inclusion - Wrostek. This new newsletter would be entitled Meganeura, and would be edited by Dr. Xavier Martínez-Delclòs.
I hope you enjoy reading Meganeura and that many more readers from all around the world will join us in this adventure. 
I take the opportunity to wish all the readers of Meganeura a Happy Christmas and a palaeoentomologically prosperous New Year.
Dr. Xavier Martínez-Delclòs

ESF Fossil Insects Network news

The origins of the Fossil Insects Network lie in a November 1994 meeting between Dr. André Nel, Dr. Xavier Martínez-Delclos and Prof. Jean-Claude Gall in Reims, France.  Prior to this, Nel and Martínez-Delclos had held many conversations on the desirability of creating a European association of palaeontomologists.  In Reims, discussion focused on the possibility of organising and financing a series of European meetings.  It was clear that, as the interested researchers came from a range of European countries, funding would probably have to be sought from a supranational, possibly European, source.
At this meeting, it was agreed that Prof. Gall and his team in Strasbourg would take charge of compiling a pre-project proposal which, after discussion, was subsequently developed into a final plan for a Scientific Network, Fossil Insects.  This proposal was submitted to the European Science Foundation in the autumn of 1995.
At its November 1995 meeting, the Network Committee of the ESF considered the project to be very interesting and proposed that an Exploratory Workshop be held in April 1996 in Strasbourg. With this Exploratory Workshop, the preparation and checking of the proposal of the Fossil Insects project would come to an end, and would receive the approval of the ESF Network Committee some months later. 
Twenty people representing nine different European countries  (Belgium, Denmark, France, Germany, Great Britain, Italy, Poland, Russian Federation, and Spain) were invited to this workshop.  The participants were: Carsten Brauckmann, Bruno David, Jean-Claude Gall, Léa Grauvogel-Stamm, Ole E. Heie, Michel Henrotay, Edmund A. Jarzembowski, Herbert Lutz, David M. Martill, Xavier Martínez-Delclòs, Annette Moth Wiklund, Andre Nel, Victor G. Novokshonov, Francine Papier, Maurizio Pavesi, Enrique Peñalver-Mollá, Jest Rust, Piotr Wegierek, Rainer Willmann, and Vladimir V. Zherikhin.
The priorities for the following three years Network activities were discussed over two days, based on the hope that the ESF Executive Council would approve the project. 
The participants decided on four points:
•	establishment of a palaeoentomological data bank;
•	phylogenetic and systematic studies;
•	taphonomy (preservational processes affecting fossil insects);
•	dynamics of ancient ecosystems and rates of climatic change.
In September 1996, the ESF Executive Council approved the Network on Fossil Insects for a period of three years and set up the Scientific Coordination Committee of the ESF Network. It comprises: Prof. Jean-Claude Gall (F), Chairman, Prof. Rainer Willmann (D), Vice-Chairman, Dr, Edmund Jarzembowski (UK), Secretary, Prof. Ole Heie (DK), Dr. Jan Koteja (PL), Dr. David Martill (UK), Dr. Xavier Martínez-Delclòs (E), Dr. André Nel (F), Dr.Vladimir Zherikhin (R), Dr. Bruno David (F), Observer, Dr. Annette Moth Wiklund, ESF Scientific Secretary, and Ms. Joanne Dalton, ESF Administrative Assistant.
On 16-17 December 1996, the Scientific Coordination Committee held a meeting in Strasbourg in order to prepare the diary of the Network.
The draft minutes of this meeting are reproduced below. They were written by Dr. Edmund Jarzembowski, Network Secretary.

Coordination Committee meeting, ESF Network on Fossil Insects 
ESF, Strasbourg, 16-17 December 1996
Present (* indicates substitute)
Dr. Mike Barker* (UK), Joanne Dalton (ESF), Dr. Bruno David (observer, France), Prof. Mikael Fortelius (invited guest, Finland), Prof. Jean-Claude Gall (chairman, France), Prof. Ole Heie (Denmark), Dr. Ed Jarzembowski (secretary, UK), Dr. Xavier Martínez-Delclòs (Spain), Dr. Andre Nel (France), Andrew Smith (ESF), Prof. Ryszard Szadziewski* (Poland), Dr. Annette Moth Wiklund (ESF), Prof. Rainer Willmann (vice chairman, Germany), Prof Vladimir Zherikhin (Russia).

Introduction
Following personal introductions by all present, AMW gave a presentation on ESF Network organisation. ESF is independent of the EU being funded by research councils/academies of Europe (but not all, especially eastern Europe). The aim of ESF is to encourage high quality science by co-operation across Europe involving a wide range of countries. Networks provide support for coordinating activities aimed at stimulating and consolidating the European scientific community in a specific field. ESF provides additional funding, on top of normal funding in member countries, e.g. to facilitate conferences. There are 10 existing networks within the field of Life and Environmental Sciences, this one running September 1996-September 1999 with completion report to ESF within two months of the finishing date. The network is run by a coordination committee (with advice from ESF) which is responsible for the budget and requires a chairperson and secretary, and network activities should be open to other scientists. There is literature on ESF including a booklet and folder.

Composition of Network Coordination Committee
The coordination committee for this network has nine members (J-C G, OH, EJ, XM-D, AN, RW, VZ, + 2 not present- Dr. David Martill and Prof. Jan Koteja) and an observer (BD) with responsibility for topics as follows:
•	Establishment of a palaeonent-omological data bank (BD, X M-D)
•	Phylogeny and systematics (BD, AN, RW)
•	Taphonomy (Herbert Lutz, DM)
•	Dynamics of ancient ecosystems/climate change (Lea Grauvogel-Stamm, EJ, VZ).
The chair (J-C G), vice-chair (RW) and secretary (EJ) were elected by the coordination committee.

ESF Network communication
AS gave a presentation on communication issues including practical ESF office support such as email listings and Web site facility.

Newsletter
Following a detailed discussion, AS contacted Prof. Jan Koteja, editor of Inclusion, about combining the newly proposed ESF palaeoentomology newsletter (X M-D) with Inclusion. It was agreed that the subtitle “Newsletter of European Palaeoentomologists” would be added and the new newsletter would still be edited in Poland but coedited by JK and X M-D, the latter being responsible for the ESF Fossil Insect Network topics. The ESF secretariat would undertake layout, production and distribution of the newsletter including both paper and Internet publication. Action: X M-D to discuss details with JK.
It was also agreed that an address list (including email) of European palaeo-entomological scientists would be kept by the ESF secretariat: their names and details should be sent to JD.

Fossil databases: quaternary mammals programme/hominids Network
Prof. Mikael Fortelius gave a presentation on the ESF fossil mammal databases raising key questions for palaeoentomology including aims, design, usage, maintenance, ownership, breadth and interaction with other databases. Key data include localities, species, minimum/maximum ages, sources and records of updates. Comment fields can include type depositories, and map interfaces can facilitate analysis.

Fossil databases: preparation for database workshop, Dijon, 1997
BD proposed an outline programme with preliminary dates (now confirmed):
14 September coordination committee meeting p.m.
15 September: we divide into two groups to examine open/closed databases at the University of Burgundy and on WEB/NET.
16 September: plenary workshop to consider our database needs and strategies.
This workshop could include five other interested fossil insect workers in addition to the coordination committee and 2 ESF database experts. It was agreed that a person responsible for the planned fossil insects database would have to be selected at the latest during this workshop. Suggestions for topics to BD; five other nominations to EJ before 1st February.

Databases: ESF Networks round-table
It was agreed that this should take place after the Dijon Workshop. 2/3 people from this network interested in database development would attend. A final decision on dates etc. would be taken in connection with the database workshop.
Preparation for Evolution and Systematics workshop, Goettingen, early 1998
RW proposed an outline programme to include a Russian view of insect systematics and evolution as well as a western one; problems of insect phylogeny to be discussed including that of Odonata and Holometabola. Coevolution between insects and angiosperms and extinction at P/Tr and K/T boundaries would also be discussed. It was hoped to publish the workshop. Comments and suggested speakers to RW in time for September Coordination Committee.

Grant scheme
RW to revise application form for grants (normally single requests not exceeding 5000 FF). Deadlines 1st April 1997 and 1st September 1998. Applications to be sent to all Coordination Committee members who in turn would forward their respective list of priorities to the chairman. Final decision would be taken by the chairman in consultation with the co-chairman and the secretary.

Budget
This network had received less funding than originally requested. Economies were discussed including combined committee meetings and workshops, fixing dates to include the possibility of apex flights, alternative train transport, and accommodation in halls of residence outside of term time. The agreed revised figures are appended.

CETAF
AW briefly introduced this consortium: it was open to museums with large collections and Prof. Los was organising a meeting on computing.
Budget
The budget of Network Fossil Insects for these three years is 600.000 FF. It is divided into four parts: a) Meetings of the Coordination Committee, b) Production of Newsletter and Database, c) Organisation of Workshops and d) Scholarships for Personal Exchanges.

Database development

Once priorities for the next three years had been agreed, the first thing to do was to create a database. For this reason, it was proposed to hold the next Network Workshop in Dijon (France), under the direction of Dr. Bruno David, to create the first Palaeoentomology database.

Second Coordination Committee meeting

A Coordination Committee meeting was held on 14-16 September 1997, followed by a workshop on 15-16 September 1997.  People invited to this workshop were Dr. Stig Andersen (DK), Vladimir Blagoderov (R), Thomas Hörnschemeyer (D), Wouter Los (H), Antony Mitchell (UK), Thérèse Chone (F), Jean-Louis Dommengues (F), Emmanuel Hollinger (F), Françoise Gasquez (F), Françoise Magniez-Jannin (F). 
The draft minutes of this meeting will be published in the next edition of Meganeura.

Fossil insect database to be Network flagship project
by Ed Jarzembowski (Maidstone)
Did you know that there are some 30,000 species, 20,000 publications and 4,000 museum drawers of fossil insects around the world?  Nobody knows the exact number because there is no existing palaeoentomological database.  
At its annual meeting in Dijon (14‑16 September) the Network on Fossil Insects decided that the main thrust for the next two years will be to produce such a database!  Sounds ambitious?  Not really, because the Network will first design and test a pilot project with view to producing a global inventory during the first six months of 1998.  How will this be achieved?  
First the Network decided that the Linnaeus II software produced by ETI (Expert centre for Taxonomic Information, Amsterdam) could be ideal‑ provided it can be modified to serve people interested in information on fossil insects.
Second, the Network will liaise with other ESF Networks e.g. hominids and mammals. Network members will then start inputing data.  The development phase will be completed when the Network meets in Göttingen in 1998, and a prototype database will be demonstrated at the Portsmouth meeting in 1999‑in time for the Millenium. That insects are the most diverse group of organisms on Earth is common knowledge, but their 300 million-year success story is virtually unknown.  Prof. Jean‑Claude Gall, Network Chairman, says: “the Dijon workshop was a great success because everyone agreed to work together to produce this unique information source from which all European countries will benefit”.
For further details on the new database see p. 15
The next Coordination Committee Meeting and Workshop of the Network on Fossil Insects will take place in Göttingen, Germany, in 1998 and will be organised by Prof. Rainer Willmann.

Grants for travel and short visits

The ESF Network on Fossil Insects aims to stimulate European co-operation in palaeoentomology. The Network will run for three years. As part of the Network’s activities, grants for travel and short visits to European research institutions are offered to enable scientists working in the field of palaeontomology to carry out joint research projects. The grant scheme is open for PhD students, postdocs and senior scientists, or acknowledged experts in the field.

Conditions of eligibility
To be considered for a grant to travel or short visit a candidate has to:
•	undertake work applicable to the programme of the Network
•	apply for a stay in a European research institution
•	be a PhD student, postdoc or senior scientist, or acknowledged expert in the field.
Application must contain a short description of the project and a short CV. Applications will be assessed on the scientific quality of the project. Applications from PhD students must include a letter of support from their supervisor.  Applications will be reviewed by the Network Coordination Committee.

Administrative procedure
The grants will contribute to travel costs (on the basis of APEX fares), normally up to a maximum of FF 5.000. 75% of the total amount granted will be paid in advance upon written request informing of the details of a bank account. The final payment will be made after reception at the ESF Secretariat of a short report from the grantee on completion of her/his visit. Original used tickets for travel and, where appropriate, other receipts must also be forwarded to the ESF Secretariat when claiming the final payment. The next deadline for receipt applications is 1 September 1998 for visits during 1999. For further information and application forms please contact Ms. Joanne Dalton. 

The following were awarded grants in 1997
Dr. Andre Nel, 15 days in Moscow, Arthropod Laboratory, Palaeontological Institue, Russian Academy of Sciences. Phylogenetic revision of the Russian Mesozoic Odonatan fauna.
Mme. Francine Papier, 15 days in Moscow, Arthropod Laboratory, Palaeontological Institue, Russian Academy of Sciences. Study of the fossil insects (Blattodea) from the Madygen Formation (Russia).
Dr. Xavier Martínez-Delclòs, 15 days in Moscow,  Arthropod Laboratory, Palaeontological Institue, Russian Academy of Sciences. Study and phylogenetic revision of the Russian Mesozoic Kalligrammatidae (Neuroptera) and Isoptera.
Dr. Ed Jarzembowski, 8 days in Moscow,  Arthropod Laboratory, Palaeontological Institue, Russian Academy of Sciences.Comparative Study (taxonomy, palaeoecology) of selected Early Cretaceous insects (Trichoptera, Hemiptera, Diptera & Coleoptera).
Prof. Vladimir Zherikhin, 15 days in Paris, Museum National d’Histoire Naturelle. The revision of Tertiary weevils (Coleoptera: Curculionoidea) of France.
Mr. Günther Bechly, in Moscow,  Arthropod Laboratory, Palaeontological Institue, Russian Academy of Sciences. Taxonomic and phylogenetic study of the Russian Palaeozoic and Triassic Protodonata and Odonata. 

The following were awarded grants for 1998

Dr. Andrei V. Gorokhov, Early evolution of the orthopteroid insects (Polyneoptera).
Mr. Fabrice Lefebvre, Phylogenetic revision of the Russian Mesozoic Auchenorrhynchan fauna.
Mr. Henrik Madsen, Insect assemblages in different stratigraphic horizons of the Danish Mo‑clay (Palaeocene‑Eocene)
Dr. Dimitri E. Shcherbakov, Hemipterous insects from the Upper Buntsandstein (Triassic) of Vosges (France).
Dr. Nina Sinichenkova, Mayflies and stoneflies from the Upper Buntsandstein (Triassic) of Vosges (France).
Ms. Nicola Jane Whitehouse, Holocene Palaeoentomological assemblages from northern Finland, with particular reference to forest limits and associated environmental and climatic factors.     

Future meetings and workshops and reports of previous meetings/workshops

Reports of previous meetings/workshops

Avances en el conocimiento del Terciario Ibérico (Advances in the knowledge of the Iberian Tertiary)
The III Congreso del Grupo Español del Terciario (Spanish Group from the Tertiary) was held in Cuenca, Spain, on 2-4  July.  Two papers were presented there: Peñalver,E. & Martínez-Delclòs,X. - Evidencias de interacción entre insectos y plantas durante el Mioceno (Cuencas lacustres de Rubielos de Mora, Teruel y Ribesalbes-Alcora, Castellón): 149-152 (Evidences of the interaction between insects and plants during de Miocene (Lacustrine basins of .....) and Peñalver,E.; Martínez-Delclòs,X. & Serra,A..- Hallazgo del género Lithobius (Chilopoda, Lithobiomorpha) en el registro fósil del Mioceno de Rubielos de Mora: 153-155 (The find of the genus Lithobius (Chilopoda, Lithobiomorpha) in the fossil register of the Miocene of Rubielos de Mora).

Future meetings and workshops

Fachgespraäch
Will be organised by Dr. Herbert Lutz. The meeting will be held in Manderscheid/Eifel (Germany) on 27-29 March 1998, or more likely, on 3-5 April1998. Information: Prof. Carsten Braukmann, Inst.Geol. und Paläeontologie, Technishe Universität Clausthal, Leibnizstrasse 10, D-38678 Clausthal-Zellerfeld, Germany. Email: carsten.brauckmann@tu-clausthal.de
AMBERIF’98
International Amber Fair. 5-8 June 1998. Gdansk (Poland). Information: Ewa Rachon, Miedzynarodowe Targi Gdanskie; ul. Beniowskiego 5, 80-382 Gdansk; Poland. 
Fax: 48-56 522 168 and 48-56 522 243.
Palaeodiversifications, land and sea compared
6-8 July 1998. Lyon (France). Information: Mireille Gayet, UFR des Sciences de la Terre, Univ. Claude Bernard - Lyon 1, 27-43 Bd du 11 Novembre 1918, 69622 Villeurbanne Cedex, France. 
Fax: 33-4-72448436 
Email: gayet@univ-lyon1.fr or lysiane.thevenod@univ-lyon1.fr
The Jurassic System (5th International Symposium)
17-20 August 1998. Vancouver (Canada). Information: 
P.L. Smith, Earth and Ocean Science, Univ. of British Columbia, 
6339 Stores Rd, Vancouver, BC, 
V6T 1Z4, Canada. 
Fax: 604-822-6088
Email: psmith@eos.ubc.ca. / Website: http://www.eos.ubc.ca/jurassic/announce.htm.
International Palaeo-entomological Conference
Moscow, 30 August - 4 September 1998. Organized by the Palaeontological Institute of the Russian Academy of Sciences, in honour of the Professors A.V. Martynov and B.B. Rohdendorf. Six topics have been proposed: 1) Phylogeny and taxonomy of fossil insects, arachnids and myriapods, dynamics of their biodiversity through geological time, importance of palaeontological data for understanding of origin or recent diversity, the problem of extinction. 2) Palaeozoogeography of insects, arachnids and myriapods, importance of palaeontological data for interpretation of recent distribution patterns. 3) Palaeoecology and taphonomy of insects, arachnids and myriapods, their use as indicators of palaeoclimate, ecological interpretation of insect evolution, palaeontological evidence for coevolutionary interactions with other organisms, taphonomical correction of palaeontological data. 4) Fossilized traces of insects, arachnids and myriapods, their palaeoecological and biological importance, approaches to their interpretation and classification. 5) Stratigraphic importance of insects, arachnids and myriapods. 6) Databases of fossil insects, arachnids and myriapods and their traces.
The programme will include the post-Conference dealing with the collections of the Arthropod Laboratory of PIN; Pre-Conference field trip to visit Permian insect-bearing locality Chekarda may be organized on a wish of participants.
The first circular of this International Conference has already been distributed. If you wish to receive the second circular or any further information, contact V.A. Blagoderov (ipvblago@redline.ru) or A.P. Rasnitsyn (rasna@glasnet.apc.org); Arthropod Laboratory, Palae-ontological Institute of the Russian Academy of Sciences, Profsoyuznaya 123, Moscow 117647, Russia. 
Lower and Middle Cretaceous Terrestrial Ecosystems: Filling the Gap
7-8 October 1998. Fruita (Colorado, USA). Information: Dr. James I. Kirkland, Dinamation International Society, 550 Jurassic Court, Fruita, 
CO 81521, USA.
World Congress on the Amber Inclusions
20-23 October 1998. Vitoria-Gasteiz (Alava - Basque Country, Spain). Organised by the Dept. Cultura y Euskera de la Diputación Foral de Alava. Seven topics have been proposed: 1) amber in history, 2) Techniques of preservation and conservation of amber, 3) Taphonomy and chemistry of amber, 4) Mesozoic fauna and flora in amber, 5) Transition Mesozoic-Cenozoic in amber, 6) Cenozoic fauna and flora in amber and 7) Amber from Alava. The first circular is about to be distributed or has already been distributed. 
The Scientific Committee is as follows: Dr. C.W. Beck (New York); Dr. D.A. Grimaldi (New York), Dr. G.O. Poinar (Berkeley); Dr. A. Nel (Paris); Dra. B. Kosmowska-Ceranowicz (Warszawa) and Dr. V.V. Zherikhin (Moscow). For any information get in touch with: Dr. Jesús Alonso, Secretaría del Congreso, Museo de Ciencias Naturales de Álava; Siervas de Jesús 24, 01001 Vitoria-Gasteiz, Basque Country (Spain). 
Tel: +34.45.181924 /Fax: +34.45.181919 
Email: Congress@ambar.DFA
Third International Symposium on Lithographic Limestone
August 1999. Bergamo (Italy). Information: Secretary of the III International Symposium on Lithographic Limestone, Dipt. Scienze della Terra, Univertitai degli Studi di Milano, Via Mangiagalli, 34; I-20133 Milano, Italia. Fax: +39 2 70638261; Email: tintori@e35.gp.terra.unimi.it. Several guidelines have been proposed: 
1) protection and exploitation of the Lagerstättens cultural heritage, 
b) field work, specimen preparation and curation, study techniques, 
c) geological setting, sedimentology and geochemistry, d) stratigraphy and palaeoenvironment, e) taphonomy, 
f) palaeobiological aspects (ontogeny, trophic web, biodiversity, etc.) and 
g) taxonomy. More information at: http://www.nhm.ac.uk/paleonet/Things/11.html.
VII International Symposium on Mesozoic Terrestrial Ecosystems
September 1999. Buenos Aires (Argentina). Information: Secretary of the VII International Symposium on Mesozoic Terrestrial Ecosystems, Division Palaeontology. Museo Argentino de Ciencias Naturales “B.Rivadavia”, Avda. Angel Gallardo 470, 1405 Buenos Aires, Argentina. Several guidelines have been proposed: Evolution of Mesozoic Faunas and Floras, Faunal relationships between Laurasia and Gondwana, Mesozoic Climates, Heterochrony and Evolution, Palaeo-ecology and Taphonomy, Others.

Recent theses in palaeoentomology and entomology

Published theses

Azar, Dany 1997.- L’ambre du Crétacé inférieur du Liban. Analyse paléoenvironnementale. Systématique et phylogénie des Insecta Diptera Psychodoidea et Heteroptera Enicocephalidae. DEA - Université Pierre et Marie Curie, Paris VI, Biodiversité: Génétique, histoire et mécanismes d’evolution. 
Email: danyazar@royal.net or anel@cimrs1.mnhn.fr
Lefebvre, Fabrice 1997.- Incorporation de fossiles dans une phylogénie: impact sur la résolution phylógénétique et inférence des données manquantes. Le modèle des Fulgoromorpha. DEA - Université de Montpellier II, Sciences et Techniques du Languedoc. Paléontologie. Email: anel@cimrs1.mnhn.fr

Theses in preparation

Martins-Neto, Rafael Gioia.- Filogenia dos Nimopteridae (Insecta, Neuroptera) recentes e fósseis. At the Dept. Biociências, F.F.C.L. / USP - Campus Ribeirao Preto, Brazil. Date of the presentation unknown.
Papier, Francine.-  The provisional title is: Les insectes du Grès à Voltzia (Trias) des Vosges (France). Biodiversité et contribution à la connaissance de la crise biologique du Permo‑Trias. The defence of this thesis will take place during the 2nd semester of 1998, at the Université Louis Pasteur in Strasbourg (France). Email: lstamm@illite.u-strasbg.fr
Peñalver-Mollá, Enrique.- The provisional title is: Los insectos dípteros del Mioceno lacustre de las cuencas de Rubielos de Mora (Teruel) y Ribesalbes-Alcora (Castellón). Tafonomia y Sistemática. The defence of this thesis will take place during the 1st semester of 1998, in the Facultat de Biologia, Universitat de València (Spain). 
Email: penalver@uv.es

Books notices and book reviews

Borkent,A.  .- Biting Mitges in the Cretaceous Amber of North America (Diptera: Ceratopogonidae). Backhuys Publishers, 237 pp, 1995.
Böcher,J. .- Palaeoentomology of the Kap Kobenhavn Formation, a Plio-Pleistocene sequence in Peary Land, North Greenland. Publisher: Meddelelser om Gronland, Geoscience, 33, Copenhagen, 82 pp. 1995.
Elias,S.A. .- Quaternary insects and their environments. Smithsonian Institution Press, 284 pp., 1994, Washington.
Mélic,A. (Ed.)  .- PaleoEntomología, Bol. SEA, 16, monography, 206 pp. Sociedad Entomológica Aragonesa, 1996, Zaragoza, España. For buy this book contact with Mr. Antonio Mélic, Avda. Radio Juventud, 6, 50012 Zaragoza, Spain. Phone: 34.76.324.415 o en el fax: 34.76.535.697.
Dr. R. Ehrmann informed us that his book Bibliography on Mantoptera Literature will be published in December of this year. To obtain a copy contact with Herr Erich Bauer; Antiquariat Goecke & Evers, Sportplatzweg 5, D-75210 Keltern/Weiler, Germany. 
Tel: 49.72.36.7174 or in 
Fax: 49.72.36.7325. The price will be DM 60.00 approximately.
During 1997 a special volume on the works and summaries presented in the seminars associated to the International Amber Fairs (Amberif) since 1994 in Gdansk (Poland) will be published. For further informationcontact: Ewa Rachon, Miedzynarodowe Targi Gdanskie, ul. Beniowskiego 5, 80-382 Gdansk, Poland. 
Fax: 48-56 522 168 and 48-56 522 243.
Dr. Phil Buckland (UK) has anounced that the Quaternary Bibliography of Paleoentomology (Coope, Buckland and Sadler) is now available online at:
http://www.umu.se/envarchlab/BUGS/QBIB/QBIBFRAM.HTM. Presently it contains about 1500 references, and we would welcome additions. It can be browsed using frames only. Download is available in zipped Word or ASCII format.

Library

Papers, reviews and bulletins received by the Editor plus news about fossil insect databases.

Papers published in 1996

Angus,R. & Ribera,I. .- Entomología del Cuaternario, In: (A.Mélic Ed.), PaleoEntomología, Bol. SEA, monography, 16: 175-182, Zaragoza.
Ansorge,J. .- Zur systematishen Position von Schesslitziella haupti Kuhn 1952 (Insecta: Phasmatodea) aus dem Oberen Lias von Nordfranken (Deutschland). Paläont.Z., 70(3/4): 475-479.
Ansorge,J. .- Eotonisca tertiaria Meunier, 1905 (Diptera, Psychodidae) aus dem Sächsischen Bernstein. Studia dipterologica, 3(2): 195-199.
Ansorge,J. .- Insekten aus dem oberen Lias von Grimmen (Vorpommern, Norddeutschland). Neue Paläont. Abh., 2: 132 pp + 17 taf., CPress, Dresden.
Arillo,A. .- Los insectos en ámbar, In: (A.Mélic Ed.), PaleoEntomología, Bol. SEA monography, 16: 147-149, Zaragoza.
Arillo,A.; Nel,A. & Ortuño,V.M. .- Two fossil bees from the Oligocene of Izarra (Alava, Spain) (Hymenoptera, Apoidea). Bull.Soc.ent.France, 101(1): 59-64.
Bechly,G.; Nel,A. & Martínez-Delclòs,X. .- Redescription of Nannogomphus bavaricus Handlirsch, 1906-1908 from the Upper Jurassic of Germany, with an Analysis of its Phylogenetic Position (Odonata: Anisoptera: Gomphidae or Libelluloidea). Archaeopteryx, 14: 51-66 (with German translation).
Brauckmann,C. & Gröning,E. .- A new Upper Carboniferous insect wing from South Limburg (Palaeodictyoptera: Breyeriidae, Westphalian, The Netherlands). N.Jb.Geol. Paläont.Mn., 2: 72-82.
Brauckmann,C. & Schneider,J. .- A Lower Carboniferous insect from the Bitterfeld/Delitzsch area (Pterygota, Arnsbergian, Germany). N.Jb.Geol.Paläont.Mh., 1: 17-30.
Castro,M.P. .- Huellas de actividad biológica sobre plantas del Estefaniense superior de La Magadalena (León, España). Revista Española de Paleontología, 12(1): 52-66.
Chin,K. & Gill,B.D. .- Dinosaurs, Dung Beetles, and Conifers: Participants in a Cretaceous Food Web. Palaios, 11: 280-285.
Diéguez,C.; Nieves-Aldrey,J.L. & Barrón,E. .- Fossil galls (zoocecids) from the Upper Miocene of La Cerdaña (Lérida, Spain). Rev.Paleobot.Palinol., 94:329-343.
Dong,R.; Liwu,L.; Shuan,J.; Ziguang,G.; Jicai,Y. & Yingjian,H. .- Late Mesozoic Fauna Assemblages of Yanliao Area, North China, and Its Paleoecological and Paleogeographical Significance. Acta Geoscientia Sinica, 17: 148-154.
Dong,R. & Zi-Guang,G. .- On the new fossil genera and species of Neuroptera (Insecta) from the Late Jurassic of Northeast China.Acta Zootaxonomica Sinica, 21(4): 461-479.
Dong,R. & Zi-Guang,G. .- Three new genera and three new species of dragonflies from the Late Jurassic of Northeast China (Anisoptera: Aeshnidae, Gomphidae, Corduliidae). Entomologia Sinica, 3(2): 95-105.
Duncan,I.J. & Briggs,D.E.G. .- Three-dimensionally preserved insects. Nature, 381: 30-31.
Fraser,N.C.; Grimaldi,D.A.; Olsen,P.E. & Axsmith,B. .- A Triassic Lagerstätten from eastern North America. Nature, 380, 615-619.
Gall,J.C. .- Triassic insects of Western Europe. Pal.Lombarda, nov.ser. - 5: 3-4.
Garcia,M.J. & Saad,A.R. .- Estado-da-arte do Projeto: “A Paleontologia da Formaçâo Tremembé (Bacia de Taubaté), Oligoceno do Estado de Sâo Paulo”. Revista UnG, 2: 36-45.
García,J. .- Algunos artrópodos del ámbar Báltico, In: (A.Mélic Ed.), PaleoEntomología, Bol. SEA monography, 16: 150-152, Zaragoza.
Gelhaus,J.K. & Johnson,R. .- First Record of Crane Flies (Tipulidae: Limoniinae) in Upper Cretaceous Amber from New Jersey, USA.Trans.Amer.Ent.Soc., 122(1): 55-65.
Grauvogel-Stamm,L. & Kelber,K.P. .- Plant-insect interactions and coevolution during the Triassic in western Europe. Pal.Lombarda, nov.ser. - 5: 5-23.
Iturralde-Vinent,M.A. & MacPhee,R.D.E. .- Age and Paleogeo-graphical Origin of Dominican Amber. Science, 273: 1850-1852 (27 setember).
Jarzembowsky,E.A. .- Fossil insects from the Bournemouth Group (Eocene: late Ypresian - Lutetian) of southern England. Tertiary Researsch, 16(1/4): 203-211.
Jarzembowsky,E.A. & Nel,A. .- New fossil dragonflies from the Lower Cretaceous of SE England and the phylogeny of the superfamily Libelluloidea (Insecta: Odonata). Cret.Res., 17: 67-85.
Jarzembowsky,E.A. & Nel,A. .- A new genus and species of hawker dragonfly (Aeshnidae) from the Lower Cretaceous os southern England. Cret.Res., 17: 97-101.
Jarzembowski,E.A. & Ross,A.J. .- Insect origination and extinction in the Phanerozoic, In: (Hart,M.B. Ed.), Biotic Recovery from Mass Extinction Events, Geol.Soc.Spec.Publ., 102: 65-78.
Krishna,K. .- New Fossil Species of Termites of the Subfamily Nasutitermitinae from Dominican and Mexican Amber (Isoptera, Termitidae). Amer.Mus.Nov., 3176: 1-13 pp.
Labandeira,C.C. & Phillips,T.L. .- A Carboniferous insect gall: Insight into early ecologic history of the Holometabola. Proc.Natl.Acad.Sci.USA, 93: 8470-8474.
Labandeira,C. & Phillips,T.L. .- Insect Fluid-Feeding on Upper Pennsylvanian Tree Ferns (Palaeodictyoptera, Marattiales) and the Early History of the Piercing-and-Sucking Functional Feeding Group. Ann. Ent. Soc. Amer., 89: 157-183, 
Lutz,H. .- Die fossile Insektenfauna von Rott. Zusammensetzung und Bedeutung für die Rekonstruktion des ehemaligen Lebensraums, In: (Koenigswald, W.v. Ed.), Fossillagerstätte Rott bei Hennef im Siebengebirge, Chapt. 5: 41-56, Siegburg.
Martill,D.M. & Nel,A. .- A new dragonfly from the Crato Formation (Lower Cretaceous, Aptian) of N.E. Brazil. N.Jb.Geol.Paläont.Mh., 5: 279-292.
Martínez-Delclòs,X. .- El registro fósil de los insectos. Boln.Asoc.esp.Ent., 20(1-2): 9-30.
Martínez-Delclòs,X. .- Origen y diversi-ficación de los insectos. Su registro fósil, In: (A.Mélic Ed.), PaleoEntomología, Bol. SEA monography, 16: 125-138, Zaragoza.
Martínez-Delclòs,X. & Nel,A. .- Discovery of a new Protomyrmeleontidae in the Upper Jurassic from Germany (Odonatoptera: Archizygoptea). Archaeopteryx, 14: 67-73 (with German translation).
Martins-Neto,R.G. .- New mayflies (Insecta, Ephemeroptera) from the Santana Formation (Lower Cretaceous), Araripe Basin, northeastern Brazil. Revista Española de Paleontología, 11(2): 177-192.
Martins-Neto,R.G..- Interaçao Inseto/Flora e Consideraçoes Sobre a Origem das Angiospermas. Revista UnG, Sér. Geociências, 1(1): 31-36.
Martins-Neto,R.G..- Reinterpretaçao da Venaçao e Revisao das Categorias Taxonômicas Superiores de Gondivanoptilon brasiliensis (=G.brasiliensis nom.transl.) Rösler, Rohn & Albamonte, Inseto do Paleozóico da Bacia do Paraná e Saucrolus silvai Santos Artropode do Cretáceo da Bacia Sanfransciscana. Revista UnG, Sér. Geociências, 1(3): 42-45.
Moret,P. .- Arqueo-entomología: cuando los insectos fósiles contribuyen al conocimiento de nuetro pasado, In: (A.Mélic Ed.), PaleoEntomología, Bol. SEA monography, 16: 183-188, Zaragoza.
Nel,A.; Arillo,A. & Martínez-Delclòs,X. .- New fossil Odonata (Insecta) from the Upper Miocene of France and Spain (Anisoptera and Zygoptera). N.Jb.Geol.Paläont.Abh., 199(2): 167-219.
Nel,A.; Bechly,G. & Martínez-Delclòs,X. .- A new genus and species of Aeschnidiidae (Insecta: Odonata: Anisoptera) from the Solnhofen Limestone, Upper Jurassic, Germany. Senckenb. lethaea, 76(1/2): 175-179.
Nel,A. & Jarzembowsky,E.A. .- Description and revision of some dragonflies (“Anisozygoptera”) from the Lower Cretaceous of England (Odonata: Stenophlebiidae, Campterophlebiidae?, Epiophlebiidae, Euthemistidae). Cret.Res., 17: 87-96
Nel,A.; Papier,F.; Grauvogel-Stamm,L. & Gall,J.C. .- Voltzialestes triasicus gen.nov.; sp. nov., le premier Odonata Protozygoptera du Trias inférieur des Vosges (France). Pal. Lombarda, nov.ser. - 5: 25-36.
Nel,A. & Roy,R. .- Revision of the fossil “mantid” and “ephemerid” species described by Piton from the Palaeocene of Menat (France) (Mantodea: Chaeteessidae, Mantidae; Ensifera: Tettigonioidea). Eur.J.Entomol., 93: 223-234
Novokshonov,V.G. .- The position of some Upper Permian Neuroptera. Paleont.Zournal., 1: 47-53.
Ortuño,V.M.; Arillo,A.; Barrón,E. & Alonso,J. .- Primeros datos sobre el paleoecosistema del lago Oligoceno de Izarra (Álava). 125 aniversario-XII Bienal de la Real Soc.Esp.Hist.Nat., 196, Madrid.
Papier,F.; Nel,A. & Grauvogel-Stamm,L. .- Deux nouveaux insectes Mecopteroidea du Buntsandstein supérieur (Trias) des Vosges (France). Pal.Lombarda, nov.ser. - 5: 37-45.
Papier,F.; Nel,A. & Grauvogel-Stamm,L. .- Nouveaux Blattodea du Buntsandstein supérieur (Trias) des Vosges, France. Pal.Lombarda, nov.ser. - 5: 47-59.
Peñalver,E. .- Yacimientos con insectos fósiles de Aragón (España), In: (A.Mélic Ed.), PaleoEntomología, Bol. SEA monography, 16: 139-146, Zaragoza.
Peñalver,E. .- Técnicas y métodos de obtención, preparación, conservación y estudio de insectos fósiles, In: (A.Mélic Ed.), PaleoEntomología, Bol. SEA monography, 16: 157-174, Zaragoza.
Peñalver,E. .- Larvas de Stratiomyidae (Insecta: Diptera) en el Mioceno lacustre de Ribesalbes (Castellón). XII Jornadas de Paleontología, 95-97, Badajoz.
Peñalver,E. & Martínez-Delclòs,X. .- Niveles con concentraciones de insectos chironómidos en el Mioceno de Rubielos de Mora (Teruel) y Ribesalbes (Castellón): consideraciones tafonómicas y paleoecológicas. II Reunión sobre Tafonomía y Fosilización. 305-310, Zaragoza.
Peñalver,E.; Nel,A. & Martínez-Delclòs,X. .- Insectos del Mioceno inferior de Ribesalbes (Castellón, España). Paleoptera y Neoptera poli- y paraneoptera. Treb.Mus.Geol.Barcelona, 5: 15-95.
Peñalver,E. De Renzi,M.; Martínez-Delclòs,X. & Querol,X. .- Actividad fosildiagenética de bacterias sulfato-reductoras en dípteros bibiónidos del Mioceno de Rubielos de Mora (Teruel). Un caso de fosilización diferencial. II Reunión sobre Tafonomía y Fosilización, 299-303, Zaragoza.
Pinto,I.D. .- Rigattoptera ornellasae n.g. n.sp., a new fossil insect from the Carboniferous of Argentina. N.Jb. Geol.Paläont.Mh., 1: 43-47
Rasnitsyn,A. .- Conceptual issues in phylogeny, taxonomy, and nomenclature. Cont. Zoology, 66(1): 3-41.
Ross,A.J. & Jarzembowski,E.A. .- A Provisional Checklist of Fossil Insects from the Purbeck Group of Wiltshire. Wiltshire Archae.Nat.Hist.Magaz., 89: 106-115
Tischlinger,H. .- Plattenkakk-Libellen - Belege für ein Trockenfallen ? Fossilien, 5: 289-300.
Viejo,J.L. .- Coevolución de plantas e insectos. Bol. SEA, 13: 13-19, Zaragoza.
Wagensberg,J.; Brandao,C.R.F. & Baroni-Urbani,C..- Le mystère de la chambre jaune. La Recherche, 288: 54-59
Werner-Hoffeins, Ch. & Werner-Hoffeins,H. .- Palaeognoriste sp. (Mycetophiloidea) Ungewöhnliche Pilzmücke im Baltischen Bernstein. Fossilien, 5: 311-314.

Papers published in 1997

Andrieu,V.; Field,M.H.; Ponel,P.; Guiot,J.; Guenet,P.; Beaulieu,J.L. de; Reille,M. & Morzadec-Kerfourn,M.-T..- Middle Pleistocen temperate deposits at Dingé, Ille-et-Vilaine, northwest France: pollen, plant and insect macrofossil analysis. Jour.Quater.Sc., 12(4): 309-331.  
Ansorge,J. .- Heterophlebia buckmani (Brodie 1845) Odonata: Anisozygoptera - das erste Insekt aus dem untertoarcischen Posidonienschiefer von Holzmaden (Wuttember; Deutschland). Abstracts für 4 Fachgespröch “Fossile Insekten”, 28-29 june, Claustahal-Zellerfeld.
Ansorge,J..- Insekten aus dem Buntsandstein (Untere Trias) von Mallorca (Spain). Abstracts für 
4 Fachgespröch “Fossile Insekten”, 28-29 june, Claustahal-Zellerfeld.
Arillo,A. & Ortuño,V.M..- The fossil Acrididae from the Oligocene of Izarra (Alava, Spain). The Antiquity of gregareous behavior (Orthoptera, Caelifera). Geobios, 30(2): 231-234.
Arillo,A.; Ortuño,V.M. & Nel,A. .- Description of an enigmatic insect from Baltic amber. Bull.Soc.ent. France, 102(1): 11-14.
Ash,S. .- Evidence of arthropod-plant interactions in the Upper Triassic of the southwestern United States. Lethaia, 29: 237-248.
Averof, M. & Cohen,S.M. .- Evolutionary origin of insect wings from ancestral gills. Nature, 385: 627-630.
Bechly,G..- Die Libellen (und einige andere Insekten) aud der Unterkreide von Brasilien (Santana). Abstracts für 4 Fachgespröch “Fossile Insekten”, 28-29 june, Claustahal-Zellerfeld.
Dong,R. .- Studies on Late Jurassic Scorpion-flies from Northeast China (Mecoptera: Bittacidae, Orthophlebiidae). Acta Zootaxonomica Sinica, 22(1): 75-85.
Dong,R. .- Studies on the Late Mesozoic Snake-Flies of China (Raphidiotera: Baissopteridae, Mesoraphidiidae, Alloraphidiidae). Acta Zootaxonomica Sinica, 22(2): 172-188.
Dong,R. .- First Record of fossil Stick-insects from China with Analyses of some Paleobiological Features (Phasmatodea: Hagiphasmatidae Fam.Nov.). Acta Zootaxonomica Sinica, 22(3): 268-282.
Engel,M.S. .- A new fossil bee from the Oligo-Miocene Dominican amber (Hymenoptera: Halictidae). Apidologie, 28: 97-102.
Engel,M.S. .- New Augochlorine bees (Hymenoptera: Halictidae) in Dominican amber with a brief review of fossil Halictidae. Jour.Kansas Ent.Soc., 69: 334-345.
Kulicka,R.; Herczek,A.- & Popov,Y.A..- Heteropteran in the Baltic amber. Prace Museum Ziemi, 44: 19-22.
Kulicka,R. & Slipinski,A. .- A review of the Coleoptera inclusions in the Baltic amber. Prace Museum Ziemi, 44: 5-8.
Kuska,A. .- New beetle species (Coleoptera: Cantharidae, Curculionidae) from the Baltic amber. Prace Museum Ziemi, 44: 13-16.
Lewis,R.E. & Gimaldi,D. .- A Pulicid Flea in Miocene Amber from the Dominican Republic (Insecta: Siphonaptera: Pulicidae). Amer.Mus.Novitates, 3205, 9 pp.
Lutz,H. .- Taphozönosen terrestrischer Insekten in aquatischen Sedimenten - ein Beitrag zur Rekonstruktion des Paläoenvironments. N.Jb.Geol.Paläont.Abh., 203(2): 173-210.
Ortuño,V.M. & Arillo,A. .- Discovery of the Genus Ernobius Thomson (Coleoptera: Anobiidae) from the Oligocene of Izarra, Álava, Spain. The Coleopterists Bulletin, 51(1): 71-73.
Papier,F.; Nel,A.; Grauvogel-Stamm,L. & Gall, J.-C. .- La plus ancienne sauterelle Tettigoniidae, Orthoptera (Trias, NE France): mimétisme ou exaption ? Paläont. Zeits., 71: 71-78.
Pawlowski,J; Kmieciak,D.; Szadziewski,R. & Burkiewicz,A. .- Attemped isolation of DNA from insects embedded in the Baltic amber. Prace Museum Ziemi, 44: 46.
Röschmann,F. .- Ökofaunistischer Vergleich von Nematoceren-Faunen (Insecta; Diptera: Sciaridae und Ceratopogonidae) des Baltischen und Sächsischen Bernsteins (Tertiär, Oligozän-Miozän). Paläont. Zeits., 71: 79-88.
Stankiewicz,B.A.; Briggs,D.E.G.; Evershed,R.P.; Flannery,M.B. & Wuttke,M. .- Preservation of Chitin in 25-Million-Year-Old Fossils. Science, 276: 1541-1543.
Wegierek,P. .- Aphid species (Homoptera: Aphidinea) from the collection of the Baltic amber in the Museum of the Earth, Polish Academy of Sciences, Warsaw (Part two). Prace Museum Ziemi, 44: 25-36.

The fossil insects database
by Thomas Hornschemeyer (Göttingen) 
Email: thoerns@gwdg.de
During the September meeting of the ESF Scientific Network on Fossil Insects in Dijon it was decided to set up a computer database on fossil insects. The purpose of this database is to give researchers access to as precise information on the known fossil insects as possible and to allow the evaluation of these data under different aspects (e.g. distribution of specific taxa in time and space, ...). To achieve this it is planned to install local databases for the different collections. These local databases then should be merged successively into a big central database. At the final stage this database should be accessible by Internet for interested researchers to directly retrieve the data. To develop this database an existing system ‑ Linnaeus II, developed and maintained by the ETI in Amsterdam‑ was chosen as a starting‑point because it already has many features our database should have, including a very flexible search function, extensive coverage of taxonomy, bibliography and geography, and the possibility to get versions running on the three most common computer systems (Mac, Windows, Unix). To adapt the existing database to the needs of palaeoentomologists a list of the information the new database should be able to store was compiled (see below). Comments on this list are welcome and should be sent to thoerns@gwdg.de.
The necessary changes to the Linnaeus II system will, hopefully, be done by the ETI team in Amsterdam. Currently we are in discussion with this team about the time needed and the costs of these changes.
Revised version of items
1.  Specimen 
1.1. Number (including code for collection); 1.2. Taxonomy (=link); 1.3. Locality (=link); 1.4. Layer / Horizon; 1.5. Collecting site (in the locality); 1.6. Collection (= link); 1.7. Place in collection; 1.8. Collecting date; 1.9. Collector; 1.10. Kind of fossil (e.g. amber, rock); 1.11. Part / Counterpart; 1.12. Sex; 1.13. Growth stage (e.g. egg, instar, pupa, adult); 1.14. Taphonomy (=link); 1.15. Status (Holo‑, Neo‑, Syn‑, Para‑, ...type); 1.16. Description; 1.17. Picture; 1.18.  Author (=link); 1.19. Comments.
2.  Taphonomy
2.1. Preservation; 2.1.1. Kind of preservation (organic, inorganic, etc.); 2.1.2. State of articulation (complete, partly disarticulated, ...); 2.1.3. State of fragmentation; 2.2. Orientation (lateral, dorso‑ventral); 2.3. Comments.
3.  Taxonomy    
[* For each of the categories below there should be the possibility to enter a sistergroup (= link);  ** For each category there should be the possibility to have a list of synonyms (=link)].  3.1.  Phylum; 3.2. Class; 3.3. Order; 3.4. Suborder; 3.5. Super‑family;  3.6. Family; 3.7. Sub‑family;  3.8.  Tribe; 3.9. Genus; 3.10. Sub‑genus; 3.11. Species; 3.12. Sub‑species; 3.13. Author; 3.14.  Year; 3.15. Description of species (subspecies); 3.16. (Number of specimens) ‑ Collection (=link);  3.17. Authority of systematic assignment; 3.18. Comments.
4.  Stratigraphy
4.1. Absolute age (million years); 4.2. Chronostratigraphy; 4.2.1. Era; 4.2.2. Period; 4.2.3. Sub‑period; 4.2.4. Super‑stage; 4.2.5. Stage; 4.2.6. Sub‑stage; 4.2.7. Source / Author; 4.2.8.  Comments; 4.3. Lithostratigraphy; 4.3.1. Series / Group; 4.3.2. Formation; 4.3.3. Member; 4.3.4. Bed; 4.3.5. Source / Author; 4.3.6. Comments; 4.4. Biostratigraphy (with figure of time column, at least three systems: East‑Europe, Central‑Europe, America? Western‑Europe?, including chronostratigraphy); 4.4.1. Zone; 4.4.2. Sub‑zone; 4.4.3. Horizon; 4.4.4. Source / Author; 4.4.5. Comments.
5.  Localities
5.1. Coordinates (Longitude, Latitude); 5.2. Sedimentology (=link);  5.3. Taxa found besides insects (=link); 5.4. Stratigraphy (=link); 5.5. References (=link); 5.6. Layers / Horizons (profile(s) = picture); 5.7. Collection sites at the locality; 5.8. Precise map of locality; 5.9. Comments.
6.  Geography 
6.1.  Palaeogeography [from Devonian to Tertiary one map every 30 ma with localities inserted at correct position (? plus maps from points in time of special events (e.g. Triassic/Jurassic, Cretaceous/Tertiary))]; 6.2. Extant geography (Map with position of localities etc). 
7.  Collections
7.1. Address, telephone, fax, e‑mail, etc..7.2. Person in charge; 7.3. Facilities available for researchers; 7.4. Former collection; 7.5. Taxa present in collection (= link); 7.6. Number of specimens for each taxon ‑ Taxonomy (=link); 7.7. Comments.
8.  Bibliography
8.1. Author(s); 8.2. Year; 8.3. Original title (original language and alphabet, if feasible); 8.4. Translated title (english);  8.5. Source (full name of journal etc.); 8.6. Kind of source (book, journal, etc.); 8.7. Pages; 8.8. Figures; 8.9. Comments.
9.  Environment
9.1. Biofacies (taxa besides insects); 9.1.1. Fauna;  9.1.2. Flora;  9.2. Lithofacies / Sedimentology;  9.2.1. Rock type;  9.2.2. Diagenetic minerals;  9.2.3. Sedimentary structures;  9.2.4. Interpretation (fluvial, lacustrine, etc.);  9.3. Climate; 9.3.1. Climate (tropical, boreal, temperate, etc.); 9.3.2. Source / Author;  9.4. Literature (=link).
Important
a) inclusion of extended information for specimen, b) extended information for locality, c) inclusion of stratigraphic information, d) extended information on collections and e) inclusion of palaeogeography in geography section.

Site conservation

Each country has different laws for protecting our palaeontological heritage. This section will provide updates.

Site protection in Spain

The legal framework concerning the protection of fossil-sites in Spain can be considered quite complete. The law of national character: Ley de Patrimonio Histórico Español (13/1985 de 25 de junio) (Law of the Historic Spanish Patrimony) and Ley de Conservación de Espacios Naturales y de la Flora y Fauna Silvestres (4/1989 de 27 de marzo) (Law about the conservation of natural spaces and the wild fauna and flora), have led to the development, throughout the Autonomous Communities (Catalonia, Aragon, Vasc Country, ...) of regulations that control the protection and conservation of palaeontological excavations. Generally, in the Autonomous Communities, permission to extract fossils must be requested annually from the Departments of Culture (General Direction of the Patrimony). In all the Autonomous Communities of Spain fossils are protected although, the degrees of protection can vary depending on the Community.
However, the existing framework in Spain and in all the different Autonomous Communities of Spain, about the protection and the recovery of the palaeontological sites sometimes proves unsuitable or inadequate. The legal procedure is usually slow and inefficient. It is due, on part, to the subordination of Palaeontology with regard to Archaeology. 
To obtain more information about the laws of the Autonomous Communities of Spain contact: Dr. Guillermo Meléndez (guillermo.melendez@msf.unizar.es), Dr. Luís Alcalá (mcnla28@cc.csic.es) or the editor (X.M-D).

International, national and subnational projects

In the Palaeontological Department of the British Museum of Natural History the scientific project: Ancient nucleic acids from amber-preserved insects has evolved.  Participants are: Dr. J.Austin, Mr. A.Ross, Dr. A.Smith, Dr. R.Thomas and Dr. R.Fortey. For informationcontact: http://www.nhm.ac.uk/science/palaeo/project1 or in the 
Email: jja@nhm.ac.uk
The following projects are being carried out in the Laboratório de Geociências de la Universidade Guarulhos (Brazil):
1) A Paleontologia da Formaçao Tremembé (Bacia de Taubaté), Oligoceno do Estado de Sao Paulo. Manager: Dra. M.J. García; Insects: R.G. Martins-Neto and M. Mendes.
2) Paleofisiologia de insetos. Manager: Dra. M.J. García; Insects: R.G. Martins-Neto, M.A. Vulcano, E.B. Caldas and M. Mendes.
3) Paleoartropodologia da Bacia do Araripe, Cretáceo do Estado do Ceará. Manager: Dra. M.J. García; Insects: R.G. Martins-Neto, E.B. Caldas, M.V. Mesquita and M. Mendes.
4) Paleontologia do Paleozóico da Bacia do Paraná. Manager: Dra. M.J. Garcia; Insects: R.G. Martíns-Neto.
More information in: http://www.ung.br and E-mail: geo@server.ung.br
Two projects about the study of the fossil insects of the Lower Cretaceous finished  last June in Spain.
One of the projects was financed by the Ministerio de Cultura del Gobierno Español (DGICYT PB94-0284) whose title was: Ecosistemas continentales del Cretácico inferior Español: Estudio multidisciplinar de los yacimientos de Las Hoyas y del Montsec (Cuenca y Lleida). This project was directed by Prof. José Luís Sanz (Universidad Autónoma de Madrid) where part of the insects of the deposits of litographic limestones from Spain has been studied. The study of the insects was coordinated by Dr. X. Martínez-Delclòs.
The other project was financed by the CE, within the framework of the Human Capital and Mobility programme (CHRX-CT93-0164), entitled: The Lower Cretaceous lacustrine ecosystem of “Las Hoyas” (Spain). This project, also directed by the Prof. Sanz has let the extension of the palaeoentomologic studies of the deposit “Las Hoyas”. Dr. X. Martínez-Delclòs has been, also this time, in charge of the study of the insects.
About the middle of this year, another project finished. This one has been awarded and financed by the Institució Valenciana d’Estudis i Investigació (Valencia, Spain) for the realization of a work titled Insectos dípteros en el registro fósil de Ribesalbes (Castellón), to Mr. Enrique Peñalver-Mollá, from the Universitat de València.

Electronic news

New CD-Rom !
by Günter Bechly (Böblingen)
The Insects and Spiders of the Santana Formation, Lower Cretaceous in Brazil
SANTANA 1.0 for Windows: Volume 1. Published by digital-fossil in cooperation with the National Science Museum Tokyo. System performance requirements: This CD-Rom is available from digital-fossils, D-67734 Sulzbachtal, Germany, phone: 49 6308-7914, fax: 49 6308-7821. System performance requirements: Dos 3.1 or higher, or Windows version 3.1, WfW 3.11 or Windows 95; 6 MB RAM required, (MB RAM recommended; CD-ROM drive, double speed recommended; quick resolution (SVGA) graphic card recommended; 2 MB free disk space (MacihtoshTM users should be able to use the CD-ROM with the emulator Insignia SoftWindowsTM). 
This unique CD-Rom can be strongly recommended to every palaeoentomologist and everybody who is generally interested in fossil insects. More information in the Petalura Webside: http://members.aol.com/petalura/pet2p03.htm).

Now on the Web!
by Antonio Arillo (Madrid)
•	Amber inclusion images, University of Bremen: http://alf.zfn.uni-bremen.de/~i18m/amber.html
•	Amber Room (New Jersey amber): http://home.earthlink.net/-skurth/AMBER.HTM
•	Amber, Window to the Past: 
http://www.kadets.d20.co.edu/~lundberg/amber.html
•	Amber in Nature, American Museum of Natural History (Domican Amber Exhibition): 
http://www.amnh.org/Exhibition/Amber/index.html
•	Smithsonian Institution: 
http://www.150.si.eu/150trav/discover/fossil.htm
•	Swedish Museum of Amber (private museum in Höllviken):
 http://www.brost.se/
•	Emporia State Univeristy of Kansas (Susan Ward Aber’s amber page): http://www.emporia.edu/S/www/earthsci/amber/amber.htm
•	Skive Museum (archaeologic amber): http://www.kb.bib.dk/kulnet/museer/guide/vibe.html
•	Geologisk Museum (Copenhagen, DK): http://www.nathimus.ku.dk/GEOL/GEOMUS.HTM
•	Natural Museum of Humbolt University (Baltic amber): 
http://www.r2.hu-berlin.de/hub/sehensw/muse-e.html
•	State Museum of Natural History in Stuttgart (Baltic, Libanese, Dominican and Mexican ambers): http://ourworld.compuserve.com/homepages/naturkundemuseum/home-e.htm
•	Mark Meyer web: (for sale CD with images): 
http://weber.u.washington.edu/~mrmeyer/amberhome.html 
•	Host unknown (insects in amber): http://goldray.com/amberlady/fossil.sht	
•	Host unknown (the amber room): http:// www.espd.com/gallery/amber.htm
•	Host unknown (amber: arboreal gold): http://www.uky.edu/ArtSciences/Geology/wedbogs/amber/welcome.htm

Other Web sites with fossil insects

•	Cincinati Museum Center: http://www.cincymuseum.org/invpaleo.htm
•	Fossil Dealing Company: 
http://www.lava.net/FOSSILS/
•	Kuji Museum (in Chinese): 
http://www.rnac.or.jp/~kohaku/
•	Garry Platt amber home page: http://www.gplatt.demon.co.uk 
•	Societas Svccinorvm in Polonia/Amber Association in Poland (in polish): http://www.amber.org.pl	

Palaeoentomological/entomological associations Web sites
by Günter Bechly (Böblingen)
I am currently maintaining three odonatological websites. 
1) The first is the official website of the Societas Internationalis Odonatologica (URL: http://members.aol.com/fsio/sio.htm) with general society information (incl. the online‑edition of the Newsletter SELYSIA) and numerous bibliographical information about the publications of SIO (incl. 12 years index for NOTULAE ODONATOLOGICAE, and preview of the forthcoming issues of the journal ODONATOLOGICA).
2) The second website (URL: http://members.aol.com/petalura/sgspo.htm) is the website of the “Specialist Group for Systematic and Phylogenetic Odonatology” with the online‑journal PETALURA, which includes for example a review of amber dragonflies with numerous colour‑figures. 
3) Finally I am maintaining a personal website on the Phylogenetic Systematics of Odonata (URL: http://members.aol.com/odonatadat/phylogeny/bechly.htm). The latter includes a complete phylogenetic system of all fossil and recent odonate taxa above the genus‑group level, including lists of all known synapomorphies. Furthermore there is an “Odonatological Bibliography” with about 1.300 references (URL: http://members.aol.com/odonatadat/phylogeny/odobib.htm), a large “Glossary of Phylogenetric Systematics” (URL: http://members.aol.com/odonatadat/phylogeny/termeg.htm), and a “Synoptic Time Table of Earth History” with special reference to fossil insects (URL: http://members.aol.com/odonatadat/phylogeny/paleodat.htm). There is also a small collection of photos of fossil dragonflies (URL: http://members.aol.com/odonatadat/phylogeny/photos.htm).

Miscellaneous

Fossil insect collections

The Museu de la Ciència from the Fundació La Caixa (Barcelona, Spain), owns a high quality collection of pieces of amber from the Dominican Republic. If you are interested in consulting this collection and studying insects, contact Dr. Jorge Wagensberg, the museum manager (musciencia.fundacio@lacaixa.es).
The Muséum National d’Histoire Naturelle (Paris, France), has not only an important collection of fossil insects but also a collection of ancient jewels of amber from all around the world. People interested in consulting and studying this collection, should contact Dr. André Nel (anel@cimrs1.mnhn.fr).
Hans Erik and Olga Rasmussen (Grenaa, Denmark) are especially interested in the hemipterans and plant inclusions and have an excelent collection of 30,000 pieces of amber. At the moment they are preparing a big exposition. Contact them at: Anettevej 4; Gjerrild Nordstrand; 8500 Grenaa, Denmark.

Spanish public museums with collections of fossil insects
by Enrique Peñalver (Valencia) and Xavier Martínez-Delclòs (Barcelona)
In Spain there are a number of national and local museums, also universities, with palaeontological collections with insects, mainly from Spanish fossil-sites. The following list includes the most significant insect collections, their importance and addresses:
Museo Nacional de Ciencias Naturales, in Madrid. It has insects from the Miocene of Rubielos de Mora (Teruel) and Ribesalbes (Castellón), even some holotypes. Address: Museo Nacional de Ciencias Naturales, José Gutiérrez Abascal 2, 28006 Madrid (Spain).
Museo Geominero, in Madrid. There you can find collections of insects from the deposit of the Miocene of Ribesalbes. It has some holotypes and sintypes. Address: Instituto Tecnológico Geominero de España, Rios Rosas 23, 28003 Madrid (Spain).
Unidad de Paleontología de la Universidad Autónoma de Madrid. Collection of insects of the Lower Cretaceous of Las Hoyas (Cuenca). Guarded by Dr. Patxi Ortega. Address: Unidad de Paleontología, Dept. Biología, Facultad de Ciencias, Universidad Autónoma de Madrid, 28049 Cantoblanco (Madrid).
Departamento de Paleontología de la Universidad Complutense, in Madrid. Collections of the Miocene of Libros (Teruel) and of Ribesalbes (fossil material from the Bachelor’s degree Thesis  of M.A. Vigón). Guarded by Drs. T. Fernández-Marrón and S.Fernández. Address: Dpto. Paleontología, Fac. Geología, Univ. Complutense, Ciudad Universitaria, 28040 Madrid.
Museu de Geologia de Barcelona. It has some holotypes of insects of the Lower Cretaceous from Montsec (Lleida) and also small collections of insects from foreign deposits. Address: Museu de Geologia de Barcelona, Passeig dels Tillers s/n, Parc de la Ciutadella, 08003 Barcelona (Spain).
Museo del Seminario de Barcelona. Some examples of the Lower Cretaceous from Montsec and all of the Triasic of Alcover-Montral (Tarragona). Address: Museo del Seminario de Barcelona, Diputació 231, 08007 Barcelona (Spain).
Departament de Geologia dinàmica, Geofísica i Paleontologia de la Universitat de Barcelona, en Barcelona. Collections of insects of the Miocene from Bellver de Cerdanya and from the Lower Cretaceous of Montsec (both in Lleida). Curated by Dr. Xavier Martínez-Delclòs. Address: Departament de Geologia dinàmica, Geofísica i Paleontologia, Fac. Geologia, Univ. Barcelona, 08071 Barcelona (Spain).
Museo Paleontológico Municipal, inValencia. A wide collection of insects from the deposits of the Miocene of Ribesalbes and Rubielos de Mora. Address: Museo Paleontológico Municipal, Arzobispo Mayoral 1, 46002 Valencia (Spain).
Museo del colegio “La Salle”, in Paterna (Valencia). A big collection of insects from Ribesalbes. Address: Colegio “La Salle”, San Luis Beltran 8, 46980 Paterna (Valencia).
Museo de Ciencias Naturales de Álava, in Vitoria. It has a big collection of insects on amber from the Lower Cretaceous of Alava and also in nodules from the Miocene of Izarra. Address:  Museo de Ciencias Naturales de Álava, Siervas de Jesús, 24, 01001 Vitória-Gasteiz (Spain).
Institut d’Estudis Ilerdencs, in Lleida. It has the biggest collection of insects of the Lower Cretaceous from Montsec, with a significant majority of holotypes and paratypes, and also some examples of the Miocene of Bellver de Cerdanya and from the Oligocene of Cervera (all of them in Lleida). Address: Institut d’Estudis Ilerdencs, Pça. la Catedral s/n, 25002 Lleida (Spain).
Museo Paleontológico de la Universidad de Zaragoza. Wide collection of insects of the Miocene from Rubielos de Mora. Address: Museo Paleontológico, Fac.Ciencias (Sección Geológicas), Univ. Zaragoza, Pza. San Francisco s/n, 50009 Zaragoza.

Exhibitions 

Atrapats en ambre! Cent insectes fòssils, cent històries de ciència
(Trapped in amber! One hundred fossil insects, one hundred science stories).
by Servei de Publicacions del Museu de la Ciència, Fundació La Caixa 
Email: musciencia.fundacio
@lacaixa.es
The Museu de la Ciència of the Fundació “la Caixa” exhibited from summer 1995 until June 1997 an unusual exhibition named: Atrapats en ambre! Cent insectes fòssils, cent històries de ciència (Trapped in amber! One hundred fossil insects, one hundred science stories), which was the first of its class in a science centre.
During an expedition to the Dominican Republic, the Museum was able to make a collection of pieces of amber. Those pieces of amber had inclusions of ravishing insects and also some pieces of a doubtless scientific value. The Museum, apart from tuning in with the interest of the scientists of different disciplines on amber, as there were remains and valuables traces of the remote past, wanted the public to contemplate a sequence of scenes seized inside pieces of amber tens of millions of years ago. From each scene one could infer a story and, from each story, scientific conclusions emerged.
The piece of amber named Jorge Caridad was distinguishable from the others; with an exceptional presence of insect inclusions (see fig. 1). What it teaches about the behaviour of the member of a colony, ants of a new species and also about the events that take place in the moments previous to the inclusion is very interesting.
Everything centred in the importance of some jewels which are characterised by a magic aesthetic and by unexpected colours that can sometimes result. The exhibition was completed with a section specially dedicated to the processes of formation of amber, from the tree which exudes the resin until its conversion to copal and its fossilisation after millions of years and, also its properties: tenderness, lightness, its balsamic character, its capacity for attracting small objects, its fusion temperature, which is between 250 and 300 ºC, as well as its one thousand colours. Information on the distribution of amber around the world, pointing out the main deposits, was also given.
At the present time, this exhibition is being exhibited in different towns around Catalonia (Spain). All the pieces are not presented.  More emphasis is put on the process of formation of amber, its characteristics, its worldwide distribution and, the work done to extract it from the mines or the sophisticated techniques to have it later in the laboratories.
The first town visited by this itinerant exhibition was Solsona, where the inauguration took place on October 9th. Later, it will go to Vilanova i la Geltrú and Roquetes. Afterwards, for two or three years, it will travel through different regions around Catalonia as for example: Sant Feliu de Llobregat, Tarragona and Pont de Suert.

Exhibition in Germany: Lower Cretaceous Santana formation 
by Günter Bechly (Böblingen) Email: Guenter.Bechly@t-online.de
A large exhibition of fossil plants, insects and fishes from the Lower Cretaceous Santana Formation is going on tour through Germany. The collection presented is probably the largest and best public Santana‑Exhibition, including more than 200 insects and other arthropods of different groups, with numerous new species and new records. The collection presented includes the rarest and best preserved specimens ever discovered from the Santana‑Formation. This exhibition is a must for every palaeoentomologist!!!
The exhibition is first presented from 21‑23 November 1997 at the “Mineralientage” in Munich (Halle 1) and afterwards from 5 December 1997 until February 1998 at the Jura‑Museum in Eichstätt (Willibaldsburg). Further dates and places are: Feb.‑April 1998 Museum am Friedrichsplatz in Karlsruhe; May‑July 1998 Senckenberg Museum in Frankfurt; July‑Sept. 1998 Museum der Natur in Gotha; and finally Oct.‑Nov. 1998 Museum für Naturkunde in Berlin.

News about fossil insects!

Discovery of a new entomofauna in amber (Paris Basin)
by André Nel (Paris) 
Email: anel@cimrs1.mnhn.fr
Amber has been known for a long time in the Paris Basin. Lacroix (1910, in/ Mineralogie de la France) listed about twenty outcrops with amber of various ages, ranging from the Mid‑Cretaceous to Tertiary, around Paris.
More recently, Feugueuer (1963) discovered a very rich outcrop north of Paris but no material was collected. Very recently, a fossil collector discovered amber in a quarry near the river Oise.
Infrared analysis has demonstrated that the amber has a chemical composition very different from that of the Baltic amber. The amber is found in sandy lignite lens, with remains of vertebrate’s bones and coprolithes of freshwater tortoises and crocodiles, but also marine fishes, suggesting a deposition in an estuary palaeoenvironment. A rich mammal fauna with several new species gives an estimation of the age, around 54 M. years. Besides its antiquity, in the Lowermost Eocene, the main interest of this new locality is its richness in fossils. The inclusions in amber are: insects, arachnida, flowers, wood fragments, seeds and leaves. Among insects, the more numerous groups are Diptera, Hymenoptera and Coleoptera, but Blattodea are not rare. Lepidoptera, Neuroptera, Hemiptera and Isoptera are present. Three specimens of Mastotermitidae have been found, suggesting a rather warm environment. The Ephemeroptera are known by ten adults and one hexuvia, suggesting, together with the presence of about six species of Trichoptera, that the resin producer trees were growing very near of the ancient river. Some resin has probably fallen directly in the river. Two specimens of Mantodea and one Phasmatodea have been discovered. Among the two species of Dermaptera present, one is very strange, with very short cerci provided with strong setaes, that probably represent a new family. Among the Diptera, we have only studied until now the Psychodidae, represented by a new genus and species, but many other families are present, i.e. Tipulidae, Mycetophiloidea, Chironomidae, and numerous Brachycera. Two specimens of Bibionidae (Plecia sp.) have been discovered in the relatively small sample examined. This is a rather surprising fact because Bibionidae are usually very rare in the known amber entomofaunas, especially in Baltic amber.
This arthropod fauna appears to be very original, with probably a great quantity of new species and genera, felling a gap between the palaeocene faunas of the Russian Far East and the Baltic amber fauna.
Until now, we have collected about 1,000 inclusions in six months of studies, but we estimate that the outcrop contains between 3 and 10,000 kg of amber, and will give thousands of arthropods.
This fauna is a unique opportunity for developing the knowledge of the diversity of the arthropod fauna, just eleven million years. after the ‘crisis’ of the end of the Cretaceous.
References
Feugueur, L. 1963.- L’Yprésien du Bassin de Paris. Essai de monographie stratigraphique. Mémoires pour servir à l’explication de la Carte Géologique détaillée de la France. Paris: 568 pp. 

Fossil amber from Alava (Spain)
by Antonio ARILLO (Madrid) 
Email: aarillo@eucmax.sim.ucm.es
As was published in the last number of Inclusion/Wrostek, the work on the study of the inclusions of the amber of the Cretaceous from Alava (Spain) were at that moment only at the beginning. The specimens are in the Museo de Ciencias Naturales de Álava (Vitoria), where the preparation and conservation of the pieces is now being carried out (Carmelo Corral and Rafael Lopez, respectively). 
To study these pieces two groups have been established. One of palaeobotany and the other of palaeoentomology. In the first one Dr. Eduardo Barrón (Universidad Complutense de Madrid) has begun the palinologic study of the sediments where the amber was; so far, thanks to the available information, it has been discovered that there are inclusions of vegetables inside the amber. Referring to the inclusions of animals, some feathers, crustaceans, arachnids and, above all, insects -Thysanura, Blattodea, Thysanoptera, Homoptera, Neuroptera, Trichoptera, Lepidoptera, Coleoptera, Diptera and Hymenoptera-. The Entomology group is coordinated by Dr. Antonio Arillo (Universidad Complutense de Madrid) and he is also in charge of studying the Diptera. To study the Hymenoptera : Dr. Xavier Martinez‑Delclos (Universitat de Barcelona) and Mr. Enrique Peñalver (Universitat de Valencia). To finish Dr. Vicente Ortuño (Museo de Ciencias Naturales de Álava) will study the rest of the Orders represented there.

Discovery of arthropods and bivalves in continental Permian deposits
(Lodévois, France)
by André Nel (Paris), Georges Gand (Dijon), Jean Lapeyrie (Lodève) and Jacques Garric (Montpellier) 
Email: anel@cimrs1.mnhn.fr
The Permian deposits of the Lodève Basin are composed of two sedimentary cycles: the Autunian and the Saxonian. Fossils from the former cycle have been known since the 18th century. As is commonly observed in continental Permian deposits, fossils are more frequent and abundant in the grey facies, while trace fossils are more readily found in the red beds. In the Autunian plants, invertebrate and vertebrate remains (fishes, amphibians, reptiles) have been collected principally from the base of the succession in the grey formations. This then gives way to various traces in the red facies in the upper part of the series.
Invertebrate and vertebrate tracks and burrows are common at the Upper Autunian but become scarcer in the Saxonian where they are found mainly at the base and at the top. As there are some 1000 metres of deposits devoid of fossils between the two, it has been accepted that the Saxonian was virtually devoid of life because of the arid climate prevailing at the time of deposition.
In actual fact, examination of Dr Lapeyrie’s collection, which was assembled over some twenty years, shows that this is not the case as many fossils were collected throughout the Saxonian. These occur in small siltstone lenses located in the argillaceous part of the binary sequences which are terminated by calcareous siltstone horizons with desiccation cracks. These beds were deposited in a playa environment. The lenses which are a few tens of centimetres thick and several meters long have yielded arthropods throughout the Salagou Formation and bivalve shells in the Dio area. Triopsids, conchostracans, insects, non‑marine bivalve and arthropod tracks have also been found. Virtually none of these fossils have been described or identified previously.
At least ten orders of insects are found, including Odonatoptera, Blattodea, Orthoptera, Hemiptera, Protelytroptera, Ephemeroptera, Diaphanopteridae, Mecopterida and possibly Diptera. Four insects incertae sedis represent unknown families or orders. 	
The Odonatoptera are mainly Meganisoptera with a new species of Typidae and a new monobasic family. Two Protozygoptera include a permolestid, Epilestes  sp., and a new genus of Permepallagidae.
Abundant Blattodea include five species of Phyloblatta, similar to those observed in the Boskovice Trough (Czech Republic) and in Kansas (USA). The same strata also contain a representative of a yet unknown order which seems to be the sister group of Isoptera. This could be the earliest representative of the termite lineage which was referred to recently in the Triassic deposits of Arizona. Orthoptera are represented by an undescribed species of Hagloidea, a group which is currently unknown before the Triassic. Hemiptera occur including Cercopoidea and Cicadomorpha: Prosbolidae, the latter being known elsewhere from the Late Permian of Russia. Protelytroptera are reported for the first time in France.
The Endopterygota include four species of Mecopterida. Unespected by Coleoptera, Raphidioptera, Megaloptera and Neuroptera have not been found in Lodève Basin although, they are known in the Early and Middle Permian of Siberia and the USA. It remains to be seen whether their absence is real, and if so, whether this is related to an unfavourable palaeoenvironment or to conditions of fossilisation.
Some new insect taxa fill time gaps between the Permian and the Triassic. Future works on the insects promises to be possible useful information for testing phylogenetic assumptions and evaluating the true scale of the Permo‑Triassic mass extinction. Insects and conchostracans indicate a Kungurian to Tatarian age (Leonardian to Capitanian) for the saxonian cycle.

Lebanese amber
by Dany Azar (Paris) 
Email: danyazar@royal.net
Lebanese amber, well known as the oldest amber (120‑135 million years) with insect inclusions (Schlee & Dietrich, 1970), is found in various outcrops in Lebanon.
The presence of amber in Lebanon has been known for a long time ago. In fact the etymology of the word Lebanon comes from the aramian word “Louban” which means “white” because of the snow in lebanese mountains, or “incense” because of cedars which were covering mountains or perhaps because of the presence of amber. The first knowledge of existence of amber in Lebanon comes from the studies of Russegger (1836)  and specially Fraas (1878). In 1926, Zumoffen indicated the presence of fossil resin associated with lignite, in sandy layers of the Neocomian. Dubertret (1929‑1955) recorded the presence of amber in the “Grès de base” as well as in the Lower Aptian’s layers.
The rediscovery of amber in Lebanon goes back to March 1967 when Dr. M. Warth gave Pr. W. Hennig some samples of amber from Jezzine from the collection of Ludwigsburg which is the remains of Fraas’s collection (Schlee, 1970). In the same year, Seilacher went to Jezzine where he determined the geological age of amberifer layers (Schlee & Dietrich,1970). Then a German expedition was carried out during  a number of months in 1968‑1969 under the direction of Westphol. Dietrich studied the stratigraphy and Schlee collected amber.
In 1969, Pr. A. Acra, while participating in a geological excursion to the Bekaa valley, found amber in a locality near Daher El Baydar. Recently, and since 1994, we have discovered more than forty Lebanese outcrops giving amber, which increase the number of amber localities up to forty eight: Jezzine, Daher El Baydar, Bireh, Kfar Niss, Hammana, Meyrouba, Falougha, etc. Lebanese amber goes up to the Lower Cretaceous (120‑135 My.), crucial period in co-evolution between flower plants and insects. This period witnesses the radiation of Angiosperms (a very important period for the origin of the flowering plants that now dominate the Earth), event accompanied with a speed diversification of insects and massive extinction of ancient groups.
The exceptional preservation state of organisms included in Lebanese amber allows to get information on palaeoenvironment and to reconstruct the ancient “Dinosaurs’ age” ecosystem with amazing intricacy of the northeastern part of the Gondwanian continent. Everything in this reconstruction derives from direct evidence provided by the amber fossils or is inferred from palynological analysis.
Lebanese amber inclusions are of great interest for phylogenetic studies of modern insects in the perspective of analysing the history of entomo-logical biodiversity during the Lower Cretaceous, the extinction processes and the diversifications in this class.
References
Dubertret,L. 1955.- Carte géologique du Liban au 1/200.000?. République Libanaise, Ministère des Travaux Publics. Institut Géographique Nationale, Paris, 1‑75 pp.
Fraas,O. 1878.- Geologisches aus dem Libanon. Jh.Ver.vaterl.Naturk.Württ., 34: 257‑391.
Schlee,D. & Dietrich, H. G. 1970.- Insektenführender Bernstein aus der Unterkreide des Libanon. N.Jb.Geol. Paläontol.Mh., 1970: 40‑50.
Schlee,D. 1970.- Verwandtschafts-forschung an fossilen und rezenten Aleyrodina (Insecta, Hemiptera). Stutt.Beitr.Natur., 213: 2‑62.
Zumoffen,G. 1926.- Géologie du Liban. Carte géologique au 200.000?. Paris, Barrère, 1‑165 pp.

Dragonflies from the Lower Cretaceous of Brazil
by Günter BECHLY (Böblingen) (*) 
Email: Guenter.Bechly@t-online.de
Among the few known localities for Cretaceous insects the Santana Formation is of outstanding importance because of the enormous number of specimens, the large diversity of taxa, and the high quality of preservation. Besides representatives of nearly all recent insect orders, this locality is also well known for its excellent fossil plants (incl. blossoms and fruits), fishes and pterosaurs.
The locality is situated in the Araripe‑Basin in NE‑Brazil, in the state of Ceara, near the city Nova Olinda. The insect‑bearing limestones of the Crato‑Member of the Santana‑Formation have been dated as of late Aptian origin.
A remarkable phenomenon is the large percentage of aquatic insects, such as water beetles, water bugs (e.g. incl. Belostomatidae, Naucoridae, Notonectidae, and Hydrometridae), mayflies including numerous larvae, and of course odonates incl. larvae as well. These aquatic insects certainly represent autochthonous elements of this limnic palaeohabitat. The spectrum of the terrestrial arthropods indicates an open xerophytic vegetation in the surroundings of the Santana‑lake (scorpions, Saltatoria, Phasmatodea, Miridae, Myrmeleontidae incl. one “antlion larva”, Nemopteridae, etc.).
The Odonata are represented by 198 known specimens (incl. 70 larvae) in 12 described species and about 18 still undescribed species (171 specimens have been studied by the author in the coll. M. Schwickert). Nearly half of the material mentioned is constituted by members of the gomphid family Cordulagomphidae (59 adults and 35 larvae). Contrary to most other Mesozoic localities there are no “anisozygopteres” known from Santana at all. On the other hand adult Zygoptera occur in several species, but there are no damselfly larvae known yet (with one doubtful exception). The specimens are mostly complete and often are preserved in remarkable quality, including metallic colours of the body, ommatidia of the compound eyes, and even the microsculptures of the pterostigmata.
The fossil record of odonates from Santana now includes the following families: Zygoptera fam. inc. sed. (1‑2 spp.), Hemiphlebiidae (1‑2 spp.), Protoneuridae (1 sp.), Euarchistigmatidae (1 sp.), Sonidae (1‑2 spp., larvae) and Aeschnidiidae (3 spp., adults), Cretapetaluridae (1 sp.), Gomphaeschnidae (5 spp.), Hageniidae (1 sp.), Araripegomphidae (3 spp.), Cordulagomphidae (6 spp.), new family cf. Chlorogomphidae (1 sp.), Araripelibellulidae (2 spp.). Several new species are briefly introduced, including the first fossil Hemiphlebiidae, the smallest odonate ever (with 9 mm wing length!), and a new dragonfly genus which seems to be closely related to the extant palaeotropical family Chlorogomphidae.
The finding of several new specimens of Gomphaeschnaoides obliquus with preserved fore wings confirms the aeschnid affinities of this species, contrary to the attribution to gomphids by Carle & Wighton (1990). Likewise new material casts considerable doubt on the recent attribution of Araripegomphus cretacicus to the stem‑group of the libelluloid dragonflies by Lohmann (1996). Finally the position of the giant dragonfly larvae, with up to 
7 cm body length and earwig‑like anal appendages, is discussed and a relationship with the larvae of Sonidae and the alleged larvae of Hemeroscopidae is advocated. These larvae probably belong to stem‑group representatives of Anisoptera, viz. large species of Aeschnidiidae.
(*) Abstract of comunication presented at the 4. Fachgespräch “Fossile Insekten”, Clausthal‑Zellerfeld 1997. Die Libellen (und einige andere Insekten) aus der Unterkreide von Brasilien (Santana).

Acknowledgements in this issue

We are indebted to J.Ansorge, J.Alonso, A.Arillo, D.Azar, G.Bechly, B.David, R.Ehrman, J.-C.Gall, G.Gand, J.Garric, T.Hornschemeyer, E.Jarzembowski, J.Koteja, J.Lapeyrie, F.Lefebvre, A.Nel, F.Papier, E.Peñalver and to all those who submitted articles to the editor, for their collaboration in Meganeura no. 1.
Information, articles or simply messages, can be sent to Dr. X. Martínez-Delclòs, Dept. Geologia dinàmica, Geofísica i Paleontologia, Fac. Geologia, 08071 Barcelona (Spain), or 
Email: delclos@natura.geo.ub.es

Reminder 
The Deadline for articles for Meganeura no. 2 is 15 April 1998.

The views expressed in Meganeura are those of the authors and do not necessarily represent those of the European Science Foundation.