Abstract Hemiphlebiidae are the most basal lestomorphan family following the latest phylogenetic analysis of the Zygoptera: this unique damselfly family today contains one relict species found in the wetlands of Australia. It was, however, very diverse and widespread during the Mesozoic. Nevertheless, very few species were known, obscuring the origination and early evolution of the family. Here we propose a new stem hemiphlebioid taxon (Protohemiphlebiidae Zheng, Jarzembowski and Nel, fam. nov.) based on a new genus and two species: Protohemiphlebia zhangi Zheng, Jarzembowski and Nel, sp. nov. and Protohemiphlebia meiyingae Zheng, Jarzembowski and Nel, sp. nov. The new family shares the characteristics of both Hemiphlebiidae and Coenagrionoidea, but it is more closely related to Hemiphlebiidae in having the pterostigma with a ‘star-shaped’ microsculpture and AA originating from the wing base slightly distal of Ax0. Protohemiphlebia Zheng, Jarzembowski and Nel, gen. nov. is further considered to belong to the stem group of Hemiphlebioidea, instead of belonging to the Hemiphlebiidae, in possessing pretibial combs and a weakly kinked RP1 below the Pt brace. The new damselflies will help to calibrate the origin of Hemiphlebiidae, which could be earlier than the current oldest records in the Kimmeridgean (Late Jurassic).

Abstract A new female wasp from Cenomanian Burmese amber was described as Peleserphus qufuensis sp. nov. in the proctotrupoid family Peleserphidae, which emerged in the Late Jurassic–mid-Cretaceous. It provides new data on the diversity of the family in Cenomanian Burmese amber and extends the records to five species.

Abstract The Myanmar Ministry of Energy has identified as prospective the three basins discussed here, but they have seen little exploration activity. Arguably the Hukawng Basin is distinct from the others insofar as exploration drilling has been carried out, and a potentially prospective stratigraphic succession has been encountered. Moreover, this basin lies on trend with the petroliferous basins of the Central Myanmar Depression. But it would be hard to argue that it is anything other than a frontier basin, and for that reason it is included here. For various reasons we consider the other basins discussed here to carry higher risk. The Ministry’s onshore map accompanying the details of the 2013 bidding round included two blocks on the western flank of the Shan Plateau in what MOGE calls the Kalaw Basin: Blocks PSC-U and PSC-V. These blocks, which lie NE and east of the capital Naypyidaw (see Chapter 4, Fig. 4.2), were not however included in their list of blocks on offer. It is an area of complex folding (e.g. Garson et al. 1976), much affected by NNW–SSE faults of which some (such as the Panlaung Fault) are considered by Ridd & Watkinson (2013) to have had a history of dextral strike-slip movement during the Late Cretaceous–Palaeogene. The western part of the two blocks (i.e. west of the Panlaung Fault) exposes Palaeozoic sediments of the Slate Belt intruded by granites (Mitchell et al. 2007), and is considered to have no petroleum potential. The eastern part of the blocks is more difficult to assess. Above the ubiquitous Permian–Triassic Plateau Limestone (=Shan Dolomite), Triassic flysch (Shweminbon Formation) passes up into non-marine younger Mesozoic rocks including red beds and coal-bearing intervals.