Dr. Hiroyuki Yoshitomi lady beetle (Yassibum yoshitomii) from mid-Cretaceous Kachin amber

NEWS - Coccinelloid beetles have a rare fossil record from the Mesozoic, but researchers describe and illustrate an unusual fossil, Yassibum yoshitomii, from mid-Cretaceous Kachin amber. The new genus and species stand out within the Coccinelloidea because of the notched prophemorea and the presence of antennal grooves on the elytral epipleura.

Yassibum is characterized by an oval body, 10-segmented antennae, with a 3-segmented club. Labrum with a strongly emarginate apex. Pronotal disc with a narrow and deep basolateral sulcus. Procoxa prominent.

Elytral epipleura broad at base, basally with antennal grooves extending posterolaterally. Mesocoxa cavity broadly closed laterally. Mesoventrite and metaventrite without opening near anterior margin. Metanepisterna hidden. Profemora with prominent incisions on outer side. Tarsi simple, 4-4-4.

The species name is gender-neutral. The species is named after coleopterist Dr. Hiroyuki Yoshitomi. The main characteristics are an oval body, slightly convex dorsal side, about 1.3 mm long, 0.9 mm wide and a slightly silty surface.

Original research

Li Y, Tomaszewska W, Arriaga-Varela E, Huang D, Cai C. 2024. An unusual Cretaceous beetle with affinity to Anamorphidae (Coleoptera: Coccinelloidea). PeerJ 12:e18008, DOI:10.7717/peerj.18008

Dlium theDlium

Humpback whales (Megaptera novaeangliae) manufacture bubble-nets as tools to increase prey intake

NEWS - Humpback whales ( Megaptera novaeangliae ) create bubble net tools while foraging, consisting of internal tangential rings, and actively control the number of rings, their size, depth and horizontal spacing between the surrounding bubbles. These structural elements of the net increase prey intake sevenfold. Researchers have known that humpback whales create “bubble nets” for hunting, but the new report shows that the animals also manipulate them in a variety of ways to maximize catches. The behavior places humpbacks among the rare animals that make and use their own tools. “Many animals use tools to help them find food, but very few actually make or modify these tools themselves,” said Lars Bejder, director of the Marine Mammal Research Program (MMRP), University of Hawaii at Manoa. “Humpback whales in southeast Alaska create elaborate bubble nets to catch krill. They skillfully blow bubbles in patterns that form a web with internal rings. They actively control details such ...

Javan mocca or Javan slender caesar (Amanita javanica)

OPINION - Javan mocca or Javan slender caesar ( Amanita javanica ) is a mysterious fungus species and has been enigmatic since it was first reported by Boedijn in 1951 and after that no explanation or reporting of specimens is believed to be the same as expected. Boedijn (1951) described A. javanica which grew on Java island as having the characteristics covered in the Amanita genus. Corner and Bas in 1962 tried to describe Javan mocca and all species in Amanita based on specimens in Singapore. Over time some reports say that they have found A. javanica specimens in other Southeast Asia including also China, Japan, India and Nepal. But there is no definitive knowledge and many doubt whether the specimen is the same as described by Boedijn (1951). I was fortunate to have seen this species one afternoon and soon I took out a camera for some shots. In fact, I've only met this mushroom species once. Javan mocca is an endangered species and I have never seen in my experience in...

Red lip (Syzygium myrtifolium)

Pucuk merah or daun pucuk merah or red-lip ( Syzygium myrtifolium ) is a plant species in the Myrtaceae, a medium tree with a cylindrical trunk and produces cambium, up to 5 meters high, bark rough and light brown, many branches and strong roots. S. myrtifolium has oval-shaped leaves, pointed tip and base, up to 7 cm long, up to 2 cm wide, a vein in the middle, flat margins, shiny surface, bright red leaf buds and will turn green over time. The flowers are compound and arranged in panicles. The flowers bloom with a stigma in the center and are white. The fruit is round and up to 1 cm in diameter, the middle of the upper surface has a depression and is shiny black when ripe. This species grows in forests, agricultural land, roadsides and abandoned lands. This tree has a root structure that goes deep into the ground and is sturdy so it is often used to rehabilitate land, prevent landslides and store water reserves. This tree has a greater ability to absorb CO2 than other types of plan...

Dlium