The Lower Cretaceous male of Lebanoculicoides daheri - belonging to the earliest lineage of biting midges (Diptera: Ceratopogonidae)

Re-examination of the male biting midge of Lebanoculicoides daheri Choufani, Azar, and Nel (Diptera: Ceratopogonidae), in 127 million-year-old Lebanese amber, revealed further features and details of morphological, phylogenetic, and bionomic importance. The phylogenetic position of the fossil genus Lebanoculicoides Szadziewski as the sister group of all remaining extant and extinct Ceratopogonidae is confirmed. A revised key to all four known species of this genus is provided. A permanently erect antennal plume is hypothesised as an additional synapomorphy of Austroconops Wirth and Lee and two Cretaceous fossil genera, Minyohelea Borkent and Archiaustroconops Szadziewski. The presence of a hind tibial comb and more distal row of spines is considered a synapomorphy of all Culicomorpha other than Chironomidae, with some secondary losses within this group.