Hylobittacus picteti, Krzemiński, 2007

Krzemiński, Wieslaw, 2007, A revision of Eocene Bittacidae (Mecoptera) from Baltic amber, with the description of a new species, African Invertebrates 48 (1), pp. 153-162 : 160-161

Hylobittacus picteti sp. n.

Figs 6 , 7D

Etymology: The specific epithet is a patronym formed from the surname of F.J. Pictet, author of the first description of Bittacus from Baltic amber over 150 years ago.

Diagnosis: Separated from all species of Hylobittacus in Baltic amber by a combination of: Sc ending just behind fork of Rs, epiandrial lobe broad and slightly narrowed apically, basistylus broad and large.

Description: Antenna most likely 16-segmented; palp 5-segmented ( Fig. 6D ).

Forewing ( Figs 6A–C ) 15–17 mm long; Sc ending just behind fork of Rs; sc–r before fork of Rs, opposite 2/3 of Rs length, and at four times its length before end of Sc; fork of Mb distinctly before fork of Rs; cubital cross-vein opposite fork of Mb; no additional cross-veins in distal radial and medial cells.

Male genitalia ( Figs 6E, 6F , 7D ): epiandrial lobe broad, only a little narrowed distally; basistyle very broad, with terminal portion incised, forming a small lobe.

Holotype: DEIM 674 /1, well preserved male, only distal portion of costal field in right forewing missing (Bitterfeld amber; Hoffeins coll.).

Other material examined: DEIM 1150/2, female without head, portion of thorax, legs and two wings (Hoffeins coll.); MP 1/797/188/01, almost complete female surrounded by milky cloud and with wings partially damaged (donation of J. Serafin).

Remarks: H. picteti sp. n. resembles H. fossilis in wing venation, but differs significantly from the latter in epiandrial lobe morphology ( Figs 6E, 6F , 7D ).

The holotype is from the Saxonian (or Bitterfeld) amber from Saxonia, Germany. Although Saxonian amber has been found in younger sediments, Weitschat and Wichard (2002) state that this is most likely Baltic amber, which was re-deposited several times .

Figures

Fig. 6. Hylobittacus picteti sp. n.: (A, B) forewing of female 1150/2, general appearance and details of venation; (C–F) holotype DEIM 674/1: (C), fore- and hind wing, (D) head with antenna and palp, (E) male genitalia, lateral aspect; (F) epiandrium, dorsal aspect. Abbreviation: e – epiandrium. Scale bars: Figs 6A–C = 5 mm, Figs 6D–F = 1 mm.

Fig. 7. Epiandrial lobes of Baltic amber Bittacidae in lateral aspect: (A) Bittacus succinus Carpenter; (B) Hylobittacus fossilis (Carpenter); (C) Hylobittacus minimus (Carpenter); (D) Hylobittacus picteti sp. n. Scale bar = 1 mm.