A New Species of Hemilauxania Hennig (Lauxaniidae) from the Lower Eocene Oise Amber-The Oldest Record of Schizophora (Diptera)?

Insects. 2023 Oct 25;14(11):835. doi: 10.3390/insects14110835.

Abstract

Hemilauxania parvula sp. nov., a new fossil species of the family Lauxaniidae (Diptera: Acalyptratae), is described and illustrated from Oise amber, France (Eocene, lower Ypresian, ca 53 Ma), and its relationship is discussed. Inasmuch as this first finding of a member of Schizophora in Oise amber probably represents the oldest known record of this group of Diptera, the age of Schizophora, based on the known fossil records, is discussed.

Keywords: Paleogene; age of Acalyptratae; extinct lauxaniid flies.