Electrobabinskaia Lu, Zhang & Liu, 2017

Hu, Jiahui, Lu, Xiumei, Wang, Bo & Liu, Xingyue, 2018, Taxonomic notes on Babinskaiidae from the Cretaceous Burmese amber, with the description of a new species (Insecta, Neuroptera), ZooKeys 748, pp. 31-46 : 35-36

Genus Electrobabinskaia Lu, Zhang & Liu, 2017 Figs 5, 6

Electrobabinskaia Lu, Zhang & Liu, 2017: 20 Type species: Electrobabinskaia burmana Lu, Zhang & Liu, 2017: 20 (original designation).

Revised diagnosis.

Forewing: RP+MA originated from R nearly at proximal 1/3 of wing. Five presectorial crossveins present. RP densely branched with 6-8 branches, most of which bears a marginal fork. CuA branched on distal half, with 9-10 branches, most of which bears a marginal fork; CuP distally zig-zagged, with 6-8 branches, most of which are simple. A1 simple, proximally approximating CuP stem; A2 and A3 simple. Hind wing: Slightly narrower than forewing, proximal part of wing distinctly narrowed, and wing apex acutely pointed and slightly bended posteriad. Three presectorial cross veins present. RP densely branched, most of which bears a marginal fork. MP1 pectinately branched into 5-6 branches; MP2 with 10 branches, most of them are simple. CuA short, with 5-6 simple branches; CuP and A1 possibly fused into CuP+?A1, short and simple. A2 present. Tarsomeres II–IV semilunar, and gradually shortened, tarsomere V ovoid; arolium present. Abdominal segment VI of female with a pair of long digitiform sternal projections.

Description.

Female.Body length 9.83 mm; head 0.60 mm long and 1.32 mm wide; antenna length 6.60 mm; forewing 10.20 mm long and 3.13 mm wide; hind wing 9.51 mm long and 2.34 mm wide; prothorax 0.58 mm long and 0.62 mm wide; mesothorax 1.27 mm long and 1.59 mm wide; metathorax 0.67 mm long and 1.27 mm wide; abdomen length 6.71 mm.

External morphology similar to male. But a simple hind wing A2 present (Fig. 5B).

Abdominal segment VI with specialised sternum VI. Sternum VI subquadrate, posteriorly concaved, laterally with a pair of long digitiform projections, which are slightly longer than major part of sternum VI, slightly sinuated, bearing long setae.

Female genitalia (Figs 5 D–F, 6B): Tergum VIII subquadrate; gonocoxite VIII paired, present as narrow ridges; putative gonapophysis VIII present, nearly semicircular. Tergum IX in dorsal view arcuate, distinctly enlarged ventrally; a pair of gonocoxite IX present, broadly valvate. Ectoprocts paired, in dorsal view subtriangular, with large callus cerci; a digitiform sclerite present ventral ectoprocts, putatively subanale.

Additional material.

NIGP197966: Amber piece preserving a complete female of E. burmana and a midge; it is polished in the form of a flattened elliptical cabochon, clear and transparent, with length × width 18.85 × 21.44 mm, height 7.76 mm. NIGP197967: Amber piece preserving a complete female of E. burmana ; it is polished in the form of a flattened rectangular cabochon, clear and transparent, with length × width 18.94 × 14.34 mm, height 3.31 mm.

Remarks.

Association between male and female of E. burmana is based on the similar body length (approximately 10 mm), the nearly identical wing venations, and the similar tarsi with semilune tarsomeres II-IV.