Incrementing and clarifying the diversity and early evolution of termites (Blattodea: Isoptera)

Abstract The past diversity of Isoptera is relatively poorly documented. Many early-diverging families are only represented today by relicts their Mesozoic and Cenozoic richness. Therefore, the onset evolutionary history transitions between families, or even subsocial eusocial ways life, remain difficult to decipher require additional fossil occurrences. Here, we report oldest worker/pseudergate trapped in amber a new Mastotermitidae, both from Hkamti amber. We document diverse assemblage species representing ‘Mid’-Cretaceous Myanmar, including two genera four as many different genera: Anisotermes bourguignoni sp. nov., Longitermes pulcher gen. et Magnifitermes krishnai nov. Mastotermes myanmarensis These descriptions provide significant morphological evidence discuss placement genus Anisotermes, confidently place confirm monophyly Mastotermitidae. Cretaceous isopterans, light biology extant representatives, used palaeoecological implications highlights radiation early diverged complex ecosystem. validity Meiatermes cretacicus discussed.