Aphid Diversity in Canadian Amber: Description of New Taxa

Canadian amber, dated to the late Campanian (79-78 Ma), is the youngest known Late Cretaceous amber deposit containing insect inclusions. Aphids represent one of the most abundant insect groups preserved in this amber. In this study, we describe an apterous morph of Alloambria infelicis Kania & Wegierek, 2005 and three new species from Canadian amber: Matronaphis breviantennata, Curraphis velox, and Latialiaphis oblita. Only the latter species is described based on an alate morph. We also analysed the holotypes of the following species: Ambaraphis kotejai Kania & Wegierek, 2005, Ambaraphis costalis Richards, 1966, Alloambria infelicis, Alloambria caudata Richards, 1966 and Pseudambria longirostris Richards, 1966. Apterous morphs reported from Late Cretaceous deposits share several morphological features with extant aphids, including appendage structures (antennae with distinct processus terminalis and cauda) and other characteristics such as single secondary rhinaria and abdominal wax glands. Our results expand the known morphological diversity of aphids in Canadian amber.