Department of Integrative Biology

Palaeomyia burmitis Poinar (Phlebotomidae: Diptera), a new genus and new species of sand flies, is described from Cretaceous Burmese amber. This genus and species differs from extinct and extant members of the family by the following combination of characters: small size (under 1 mm); 18-segmented antennae; Rs shorter than R2-4; R-1 longer than R2+3,(.) R2-4 longer than R2+3 discal cell open basally; vein R-2 shorter than R2+3 obliquely reaching costal margin; basal part of M-3 separated by a short crossvein from M1+2; vein CuA(2) short; and anal vein absent. The presence of a well-developed proboscis with piercing type mandibles and maxillae and a blood meal in its midgut indicates that this specimen was a blood feeder. Palaeomyia burmitis is considered a progenitor of the Sergentomyia clade, an Old World genus that feeds on reptiles.