Hylobittacus fossilis (Carpenter, 1954) 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 : 157-158

Hylobittacus fossilis (Carpenter, 1954) , comb. n.

Figs 4 , 7B

Bittacus fossilis: Carpenter 1954: 37 , 38, figs 3A, 4B.

Diagnosis: Separated from all species of Hylobittacus in Baltic amber by a combination of: Sc short, ending well before fork of Rs; epiandrial lobe with deeply incised margin dorsally.

Redescription:

Male.

Forewing ( Figs 4A–D ) 13–16 mm long. Single pterostigmal cross-vein; Sc short, ending well before fork of Rs; sc–r at two to four times its length before end of Sc; cubital cross-vein below fork of Mb; no additional cross-veins in radial, medial distal cells.

Genitalia ( Figs 4E, 4F , 7B ): epiandrial lobe with deeply incised margins dorsally, forming posterior lobe; upper, inner margin of epiandrial lobe with numerous spines; basistyle large.

Holotype (examined): MCZ 5209 (old no. 5117), male, mostly clearly preserved on one side, milky coating on portions of the other, some legs, half of right forewing and apical portion of right hind wing missing as a result of preparation.

Other material examined: MCZ 4898 , specimen complete except for left wings missing, clearly preserved except for some milky covering in places ; DEIM 1150 /1, a complete male specimen in perfect condition (Hoffeins coll.) ; MP 1 /1/551/05/A, female, an entire specimen in good condition, only head partially obscured ; MP 1 /2/552/04, three males in one piece of amber: two entire specimens in perfect condition; third one only partially preserved, without head, and only a portion of thorax and one wing present, abdomen obscured by milky layer ; MP 1 /1/552/04, female with only two wings, fragments of legs and abdomen preserved ; MP 1 /5/552/04, sex unknown, only fragments of wings and one leg preserved ; MZW 19996 , sex unknown, two wings and small fragment of thorax and legs preserved .

Remarks: H. fossilis seems to be the most frequent bittaciid found in Baltic amber (pers. observ.). Its venation shows remarkably little variation.

Figures

Fig. 4. Hylobittacus fossilis (Carpenter): (A, B) male DEIM 1150/1, general appearance of wing and details of venation; (C, D) female MP/1/1/551/05/A, general appearance of wing (reversed left-right) and details of venation; (E, F) male genitalia, DEIM 1150/1 general appearance and details. Abbreviation: e – epiandrium. Scale bars: Figs 4A–D = 5 mm, Figs 4E, 4F = 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.