Ululodes paleonesia, ENGEL & GRIMALDI, 2007

ENGEL, MICHAEL S. & GRIMALDI, DAVID A., 2007, The Neuropterid Fauna of Dominican and Mexican Amber (Neuropterida: Megaloptera, Neuroptera), American Museum Novitates 3587, pp. 1-60 : 41-44

Ululodes paleonesia , new species figures 45 , 46

DIAGNOSIS: The new species is noteworthy for the combination of the elongate antennae (longer than the forewing), pterostigma of forewing darkly pigmented and enlarged, and hyaline wing membranes. The species closely resembles the modern U. macleayana (Guilding) but differs by the more elongate antennae and the distinctly narrower area of the wing posterior to CuA ( fig. 46 ) (maximal width of posterior area distinctly less than width of area anterior to CuA at same point while in U. macleayana the posterior area is broader than the anterior area).

DESCRIPTION: Length as preserved approximately 13 mm (only preserved from head through portion of abdominal segment IV: figs. 45 , 46 ); forewing length 22 mm. Integument light brown, without apparent maculations. Head about as long as wide; compound eyes distinctly divided horizontally near midpoint; antenna arising near midpoint of head length; antenna elongate, longer than forewing; scape, pedicel, flagellar articles with simple, erect setae near apices; flagellar articles each distinctly longer than wide (approximately twice as long as wide) except those of antennal club wider than long. Pterostigma of forewing formed of darkly pigmented spot near wing apex where Sc meets R and composed of several closed cells ( fig. 46 ), remainder of wing membrane hyaline; membrane of preserved portion of hind wings hyaline ( figs. 45 , 46 ); veins of both wings black; maximal width of posterior area of wing posterior to CuA less than width of area anterior to CuA at same point in forewing; hind wing CuP distinctly arched posteriorly toward its apex ( fig. 46 ); 2A absent; hind wing without anal lobe. Body relatively densely pubescent, setae simple and dark brown; those setae of femora and tibiae of medium length, long but shorter than those of thorax; pretarsal claws long, thin, and simple; abdominal apex with dense, stiff, short, black setae.

HOLOTYPE: MACT-3546 ( fig. 45 ), Miocene amber of the Dominican Republic.

ETYMOLOGY: The specific epithet is a combination of the Greek words palaios (meaning ‘‘ancient’’) and nesos (meaning ‘‘island’’) and is a reference to the Miocene, island habitat of this species.

Figures

Fig. 45. Photomicrograph (dorsal above, ventral below) of holotype of Ululodes paleonesia, new species (MACT-3546).

Fig. 46. Ventral habitus of holotype of Ululodes paleonesia, new species (MACT-3546).