A new lineage of pygidicranid earwigs from mid-Cretaceous amber of northern Myanmar (Dermaptera: Pygidicranidae)

Based on a well-preserved male specimen from mid-Cretaceous Kachin amber, we describe a new genus and its type species of earwig, Prodacnodes dupliforceps gen. et sp. nov. Prodacnodes has a unique combination of traits: large compound eyes, scape shorter than compound eye length, pronotum as broad as head, prosternum subtrapezoidal, wings present and fully developed, metatarsomere II not slanted apically, pygidium with short medioapical process, male external parameres with prominent subapical tooth mesally, and simple forceps. Our research contributes additional morphological features and information, enriching our comprehension of the lineages and diversity of Late Mesozoic earwigs. (c) 2024 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.