Proliopteron Liu and Engel, 2007

LIU, ZHIWEI, ENGEL, MICHAEL S. & GRIMALDI, DAVID A., 2007, Phylogeny and Geological History of the Cynipoid Wasps (Hymenoptera: Cynipoidea), American Museum Novitates 3583, pp. 1-48 : 10-11

Proliopteron Liu and Engel , new genus

TYPE SPECIES: Proliopteron redactus Liu and Engel , new species.

DIAGNOSIS: The genus can be easily distinguished from all other genera in the family by a combination of: (1) characteristic liopteridlike sculpture on gena and lateral surface of pronotum absent, (2) lateral pronotal carina dorsally very reduced, (3) posterior mesoscutellar processes absent, (4) metatibial lobe absent, (5) pubescence of wings reduced such that it is represented by mere dots, and (6) mesocoxa inserted to mesopectus vertically, not on a separate, projected area (a few modern species of Paramblynotus also have this feature).

COMMENTS: Proliopteron is the sister clade to all other liopterids. The genus lacks several of the synapomorphic features shared by other liopterids, including the characteristic foveate integumental sculpturing of the pronotum and mesoscutellum, the median mesopleural impression, the posterior mesoscutellar process, and the metatibial lobe. Some of the features of the genus are also shared by Mesocynips , including the lack of foveate sculpturing on the pronotum and mesoscutellum and the absence of the posterior mesoscutellar process.

ETYMOLOGY: The genus-group name is a combination of pro- (Latin, meaning ‘‘before’’) and Liopteron , the type genus of the family. The name is masculine.

Proliopteron redactus Liu and Engel , new species figures 5 , 6

DIAGNOSIS: As for the genus (see above).

DESCRIPTION: Female. Body length 1.0 mm; forewing length 0.9 mm. Body mostly black to dark brown; antenna and legs dark brown; wings hyaline, without any macula or band. Antennae cylindrical and slightly expanded toward apex, 12-segmented; pedicel almost spherical, half as long as scape; F1 as long as F2; other flagellomeres subequal to F1, except apical flagellomere is twice as long as preceding one; elongate placodeal sensilla present on all flagellomeres. Frons, vertex, and gena glabrous; lower face with flat but distinct median carina complete to clypeus, otherwise without apparent sculpture; gena not expanded behind compound eye; compound eye longer than malar space by onethird. Lateral surfaces of pronotum glabrous; lateral pronotal carina dorsally reduced. Mesoscutum glabrate, without transverse costa; mesoscutellum posteriorly sloped without process; mesopleuron glabrous and ventrally bordered by straight lateroventral carina; mesopectus not protruding ventrally, mesocoxa directed vertically and not inserted on separate, oblique posterior area. Propodeum devoid of processes; lateral propodeal carina dorsally raised into a distinct right-angular lobe. Wings entirely hyaline, all wing margins ciliate except anterior margin of forewing; pubescence of wings reduced and represented by mere dots. Forewing with marginal cell closed, four times as long as wide; bulla in Sc+R 1 present; 2r-rs oblique, sloping outward posteriorly; areolet absent; Rs+M arising from somewhat anterior to middle of first free abscissa of M (5 basal vein). First metatarsomere slightly shorter than combined length of second through fifth metatarsomeres; metaprestaral claws simple, without basal lobe. Metasoma inserted high on propodeum, postsubpleuron long; metasomal T2–4 (5 abdominal T3–5) subequal in size, metasomal T5 largest; metasomal T7 exposed, not completely covered by metasomal T6; metasomal S3–5 (5 abdominal S4–6) exposed, not covered by metasomal S2; ovipositor exserted, apically with ventral serrations ( fig. 6 ). Male. Unknown.

HOLOTYPE: Female, CNC CAS-409, Late Cretaceous (Campanian), Medicine Hat, Alberta, Canada, coll. J.F. McAlpine, 1971- VII-8–10 [8–10 July 1971]; deposited in the CNC.

ETYMOLOGY: The specific epithet is derived from the Latin word redactus meaning ‘‘reduced’’ and refers to the reduced pubescence on the wing membranes.

Goeraniinae Liu and Engel , new subfamily

TYPE GENUS: Goerania Liu and Engel , new genus.

DIAGNOSIS: As for the genus (see below).

Figures

Fig. 5. Photomicrograph of holotype female of Proliopteron redactus Liu and Engel, new genus and species (CAS-409).

Fig. 6. Holotype female of Proliopteron redactus Liu and Engel, new genus and species (CAS-409).