The Khasurty locality is an Early Cretaceous (Neocomian) lagerstätte in Russia, within the Sangin Formation. This lagerstätte is located outside the village of Tsakir in the region of Zakamensk. Over 6,000 insect specimens have been found from the site, belonging to around 130 families. Its insect biota resembles both Jurassic and Cretaceous ones, most heavily the Jehol biota of China.
Paleobiota
Non-Insecta
Non-insect organismsGenusSpeciesHigher taxonNotesImagesPalaeoeorakP. scherbakoviProchydorusidae (Anomopoda)Only named crustacean from KhasurtyBryokhutuliiniaB. obtusifoliaHookeriales?Indeterminate familyKhasurtyaK. ginkgoidesMarchantiidaeSpecific name comes from the similarity in leaf shape to the ginkgoKhasurtythallusK. monosolenioidesMarchantiidaeLikely an extinct clade of liverwortsPalaeodichelymaP. sinitzaeHypnanae (pleurocarpous mosses)Also known from the Jurassic of RussiaTricostiumT. longifoliumBryophyta incertae sedisSimilar to a species found ~2000 km to the east
Insects
Palaeopterans
PalaeopteransGenusSpeciesHigher taxonNotesImagesBaikalogenitesB. firmusHexagenitidae (Ephemeroptera)Bears a longer seventh gill pairEpiproctophora spp.UnapplicableOdonataKnown from several unnamed species, most seemingly within Isophlebiidae or CampterophlebiidaeFurvonetaF. khasurtensisMesonetidae (Ephemeroptera)Largest member of the genusMesobaetisM. crispaSiphlonuridaeSimilar to the species M. amplectus, but has a larger rib on its gill platesMesogenesiaM. spMickoleitiidaeOnly known from a poorly preserved specimenProameletusP. branchiatusSiphlonuridaeBears larger gills than the type species Polyneopterans
PolyneopteransGenusSpeciesHigher taxonNotesImagesAboilus?A?. khasurtyProphalangopsidaeDiffers from Aboilus in wing venation, but still fairly close to itArchisusumaniaA. contactaSusumanioideaDiffers from other genera in wing venationDimoulaD. khasurtensisNemouridaeOne of the few extinct nemourids knownJurataenionemaJ. rohdendorfiTaeniopterygidaeKnown from a complete female specimenMongoloxyaM. fossorTridactylidaeDiffers from the other species in the genus by having digging-adapted forelimbsRasnitsyrinaR. culonga, R. desiliensPerlariopseidae (Plecoptera)Most abundant stonefly from the siteShurabiaS. cretaGeinitziidaeLatest known winged notopteran besides those known from Burmese amberSiberoperlaS. bashkueviPeltoperlidaeOldest peltoperlid, alongside the first fossil of a nymph from the family
Paraneopterans
ParaneopteransGenusSpeciesHigher taxonNotesImagesBuryatoceraB. betaKobdocoridae (Pentatomoidea)Has relatively short antennaeCreocanadaphisC. hirtusCanadaphididaeAbdomen bears numerous small spines on scleritesExtralapisE. carens, E. breviscutumKobdocoridaeIntermediate between the two other kobdocorid genera from Khasurty in pronotum (top-front section of thorax) proportionsKhasuaphisK. serotinusJuraphididaeBears longer antennae than other members of its familyKhasorisK. yuripopoviKobdocoridae (Pentatomoidea)Bears a very long ovipositorLiadopsyllaL. (Basicella) lauteri, L. (Basicella) loginovaeLiadopsyllidaeType genus of the familyOccidoscelisO. glaberAnthocorinaeOne of the only fossil anthocorids knownReticyclaR. drospoulosiHylicellidae (Cicadomorpha)Has a smaller ovipositor and a different foreleg structure to most other hylicellidsStigmapsyllaS. klimaszewskiiLiadopsyllidaeBears a dark pterostigmaTobleronothripsT. deparisAeolothripidaeNamed for Toblerone chocolate, which "noticeably helps when identifying complex imprints of thrips"
Holometabola
Hymenopterans
HymenopteransGenusSpeciesHigher taxonNotesImagesAmplicellaA. mininae, A. bashkuyevi, A. shcherbakovi, A. minorTanychorinae (Ichneumonidae)Has a dark body with lighter legs/wing veinsGhilarellaG. kopyloviSepulcidaeOriginally placed within G. mercurialis, as it only differed from the type of that species in wing colourationHymenoptera spp.UnapplicableHolometabolaIncludes numerous undescribed species from within various families like Angarosphecidae, Megalyridae and ProctotrupidaeKhasipsK. alisecta, K. sculpta, K. kovaleviArchaeocynipidae (Cynipoidea)K. kovalevi has clubbed antennae, K. sculpta has an unusual pattern on its thoraxKhasurtellaK. buryaticaTanychorinae (Ichneumonidae)Genus also contains a former Tanychora speciesMicramphiliusM. mirabilipennisSepulcidaeFirst member of its genus which preserves the hind wingsOnokhoiusO. venustusSepulcidaeBears a dark band on its pterostigmaPamparaphiliusP. khasurtensisSepulcidaeHolotype wing has numerous unusual veins, likely as a result of mutationParasyntexisP. khasurtensisAnaxyelidaePraeichneumonP. dzhidensis, P. khamardabanicus, P. zakhaaminicusPraeichneumonidaeKnown from several mostly complete specimensSclerostigmaS. trimaculataDolichostigmatinae (Anaxyelidae)Species name means "three-spotted", as its abdominal tergites have patterns of three spotsTrematothoraxT. zhangi, T. brachyurus, T. extravenosusSepulcidaeAnother distinct species is known, however the material is too poor to name a new taxon
Neuropteridans NeuropteridansGenusSpeciesHigher taxonNotesImagesAberrantochrysaA. buryatica, A. pulchellaChrysopidaeCretohondelagiaC. viridisPriscaenigmatidae (Raphidioptera)Youngest priscaenigmatid fossil knownDzhidosmylusD. solusOsmylidaeUncertain subfamilyKhasurtoberothaK. bellissimaBerothidaeSimilar to the modern ProtobiellaMesypochrysaM. cannabina, M. naranicaChrysopidaeOsmylochrysaO. navasiaOsmylidaePreviously only known from England, resembles chrysopid lacewingsZakamnosmylusZ. elongatusOsmylidaeSimilar to the Jurassic Ensiosmylus
Coleopterans ColeopteransGenusSpeciesHigher taxonNotesImagesColeoptera spp.UnapplicableColeopteraContains many undescribed species in families such as Staphylinidae and ScarabaeidaeCoptoclavaC. longipodaCoptoclavidaeMay not actually belong to the speciesDistenorrhinusD. (Buryatnemonyx) ovatus, D. (Buryatnemonyx) gratsheviNemonychidaeAnother undescribed species bears very large eyesGracilicupesG. minimusCupedidaeMuch smaller than other species of the genusJurodesJ. shefJurodidaeSimilar to Jurodes from DaohugouNotocupesN. khasurtyiensisArchostemata incertae sedisHas larger eyes and a shorter first abdominal segment than other species in the genusPalaeonecrophilusP. buryaticusAgyrtidaeEarliest known agyrtid beetlePonohydrochusP. buryaticusHydrochidaeFirst fossil hydrochid genusUndaU. popoviTrachypachidaeAlso known from the Jurassic
Mecopterans MecopteransGenusSpeciesHigher taxonNotesImagesAntiquanabittacusA. dispar, A. robustus, A. saltatorBittacidaeSimilar to extant OrobittacusItaphlebiaI. sppNannochoristidaeKnown from very well-preserved material, however the difficult diagnosis of Itaphlebia species means the Khasurty species have not been namedLichnomesopsycheL. spMesopsychidaeOnly known from one wingMeropeidae spp.UnapplicableMecopteraKnown from two different species each with a complete specimen, unusual for meropeids (which rarely fly)MesochoristaM. spPermochoristidae (related to Nannochoristidae)Formerly known as "Yanorthophlebia", which is a synonym of "Liassochorista" and in turn Mesochorista
Dipterans DipteransGenusSpeciesHigher taxonNotesImagesAmorimyiaA. robustaAnisopodidaeDiffers from related genera in its hairy head and larger sizeCollessommaC. sibirica, C. gnomaPerissommatidaeUnlike modern perissommatids, this genus has fused (holoptic) eyesEoptychopteraE. fasbenderiPtychopteridaeDistinguished from other species in its genus by an additional cross-vein on the wingGilkaniaG. transbaikalicaPodonominae (Chironomidae)Only known from pupal exuviaJuraxymyiaJ. krzeminskiiAxymyiidaeAlso known from DaohugouKaluginamyiaK. enigmaticaKaluginamyiidae (Chironomoidea)Placed in its own familyKovalevimyiaK. spSimuliidaeOne of the earliest hematophagous fly fossils, likely fed on birdsMangasM. brevisubcosta, M. kovaleviBolitophilidaeAlso known from MongoliaPraearchitipulaP. kaluginae, P. podenasi, P. ribeiroiPediciidaeRelatively large for pediciidsProtanyderus?P. madriziTanyderidaeMay not belong to the genusSinaxymyiaS. szadziewskiiAxymyiidaeAlso known from DaohugouZhigankaZ. longialataPtychopteridaeKnown from complete specimens
Amphiesmenopterans AmphiesmenopteransGenusSpeciesHigher taxonNotesImagesAxiomaldiaA. flintiTrichopteraUncertain familyBuranimaB. gorhonPsychomyiidaeDiffers from other genera in having a maxillary palp without a longer second segmentBurimodusB. novusVitimotauliidae (Trichoptera)BuryatocentrusB. suspiciosusYantarocentridae (Limnephiloidea)Has two-segmented gonopodsCretocraniaC. stekolnikovi, C. glossancestralis, C. inconcessaCretocraniinae (Eriocraniidae)Differs from modern eriocraniids in having round wing tips and very long galeaeDauroglosD. hohlomakGlossosomatidaeSimilar to the genus DajellaDuamodusD. anichkovi, D. necessariusVitimotauliidae (Integripalpia)Similar to MultimodusDysoneuraD. subbotaDysoneuridaeSpecific name derives from the Russian word for "Saturday"KhasurtiaK. kopylovi, K. alexeii, K. lukashevichae, K. novissimaDysoneuridaeA fairly diverse caddisfly genus, almost entirely known from KhasurtyJuraphilopotamusJ. callidusPhilopotamidaeHas small dark spots on forewingMelocladaM. diuturna, M. frequentatoriaCladochoristidae (Trichoptera)Similar to the related CladochoristellaMesocolepusM. deflectumPtilocolepidae (Hydroptiloidea)Bears large setal warts, with their shape used to distinguish the genusMultimodusM. amplusVitimotauliidae (Trichoptera)Largest species of the genusPalaeosiberomiyaP. zugzwangaDysoneuridaeBears longitudinal stripes of dark scales on its wingsProtobaikalopsycheP. rossicaProtobaikalopsychidae (Hydropsychoidea)Likely basal to a clade including PolycentropodidaeProtorodiniaP. khasurtensisLeptoceridaeBears a large mesoscutum and unusual abdominal tipProtosiberopteryxP. antitheton, P. equesaeneus, P. praevernalisEolepidopterigidaeKnown from one male and two female specimens, similar to UndopterixPurbimodusP. parvulus, P. khramoviVitimotauliidae (Trichoptera)Redescribed in a 2021 paperSententimiyaS. wichardiPsychomyiidaeBears a plate on the fifth sternite similar to those on psychomyiidsShadareniskiaS. inambulariaHydrobiosidaeKnown from a female specimen, as shown by the genitalia and a suture on the sixth sterniteSiberocretopetusS. ekaterinaeGlossosomatidaeSpecific name honours Ekaterina Sidorchuk, a palaeoacarologist (researcher who studies fossil mites) who died in 2019SiberoprostoriaS. archaeoscriptorHydrobiosidaeKnown from a female specimen, as shown by the genitalia and a suture on the sixth sterniteStyxowiaS. predponimaniaPolycentropodidaeHas large, spiny gonopodsSusurimiyaS. transbaikalicaPsychomyiidaeBears a swollen abdomen tip like modern psychomyiids, but differs in the structure of its maxillary palpsTerminoptysmaT. contradictoriaTerminoptysmatidae (Trichoptera)Placed in its own monotypic familyTerrindusiaT. khasurtica, T. buriaticaTrichopteraKnown only from larval casings
References