Burmasphex, Melo & Rosa, 2018

Melo, Gabriel A. R. & Rosa, Brunno B., 2018, New genus of fossil apoid wasps (Hymenoptera, Apoidea) from the Cretaceous amber of Myanmar, Revista Brasileira de Entomologia (Rev. Bras. Entomol.) 62 (4), pp. 319-323 : 320

† Burmasphex gen. nov.

urn:lsid:zoobank.org:act:0933E16B-7E65-4C18-BBB3-AE0F5E1AF058

Type species: † Burmasphex sulcatus sp. nov.

Diagnosis. This group is easily recognized by its slender body shape, a broad, transverse head (distinctly wider than long) with a very long vertex, long and slender antennae, large eyes with subparallel inner orbits, a long and narrow pronotum that overlays the anterior portion of the mesoscutum, deeply marked notauli, and a marked constriction between the 1st and 2nd metasomal segments.

Description. Small wasps, 3.5–6.5 mm in length. Body pilosity relatively long, sparse and erect; integumental surface smooth and shiny. Head. Distinctly wider than long in frontal view; vertex very large, 3× longer than distance between anterior and posterior ocelli. Maxillary palpus slender and relatively long, its length not surpassing eye length. Male mandible tridentate, with two dorsal subapical teeth. Clypeus very short, much wider than long. Antenna relatively long, F1–F3 slender, distinctly longer than wide, remaining flagellomeres progressively decreasing in length and width. Eye large, occupying more than half of entire lateral surface of head; inner orbits subparallel; eye bare, facets uniform in size. Occipital carina almost complete, with short ventral interruption. Mesosoma. Pronotum elongate, much longer than wide, and overlaying anterior portion of mesoscutum posteriorly; posterior margin of its dorsal portion level with adjacent anterior portion; lateral surface with constriction between anterior and posterior portions; lateral ridge present, relatively short and inconspicuous; posterolateral angle reduced dorsally above and anteriorly to differentiated spiracular operculum forming small pronotal lobe. Notaulus indicated by deep sulcus; parapsidial line extending to posterior margin of mesoscutum. Mesepisternal sulcus absent; omaular carina present. Condyle of mesal articulation of mid coxa located in small projection of posterior margin of mesepisternum; ventral portion of metepisternum wide and flat, broadly fused to mesokatepisternum; medial portion of mesometepisternal suture, between midcoxae, clearly visible. Propodeum box-like, with well-defined dorsal surface, whose length is subequal to its posterior surface; dorsal and posterior surfaces set apart by transverse carina. Legs slender; claws with subapical tooth; midtibia with two spurs; basal part of mesocoxa forming narrow pedicel (coxa pedunculate); mesocoxal carina absent. Wings. Forewing with three submarginal cells (1st larger than 2nd and 3rd, 2nd and 3rd subequal in size), 2nd cubital, and 1st and 2nd medial cells; vein 1m-cu touches M near its bifurcation with Rs (slightly after or slightly before) and vein 2m-cu touches M at 3rd submarginal cell. Marginal cell longer than pterostigma, its apex acute; costal cell slightly wider than width of vein C; veins M and CuA diverging distal to cu-a; 2nd abscissa of M + CuA shorter than cu-a. Hindwing C absent; vein M diverging from CuA at cu- a. Metasoma. Anterior portion of 1st segment narrow but not forming a petiole; 2nd segment with distinct constriction anteriorly. Anterior portion of 2nd sternum at different height compared to remainder of sclerite, surface separating these two portions almost vertical. Male sternum 8 expanded posteriorly and forming relatively broad lobe, its margin with fringe of long setae. Females unknown.

Etymology. The genus is named after Burma, the former name of the country from which the amber originated, and Sphex , the type genus of the apoid family Sphecidae . The name is masculine.

Included species. † Burmasphex sulcatus sp. nov. and † Burmasphex pilosus sp. nov.