Brundiniella patriciae, Published, 2007

Published, First, 2007, Chironomid midges from early Eocene amber of France (Diptera: Chironomidae), Zootaxa 1404, pp. 1-66 : 8-9

Brundiniella patriciae n. sp.

( Figs. 3–5)

Etymology: This species is named for Patricia Nel, wife of the second author.

Diagnosis: Body ca. 2 mm long; palp segment 3 cylindrical; preepisternal stetae absent; scutal tubercle absent; claws of middle legs not cusp shaped; numerous long setae on outer surface of gonocoxites; absence of short strong setae on outer margin of gonocoxites, gonostylus covered by numerous setae, disposed in tuft at apex (main character).

Description: Head deformed, 0.45 mm long; ocelli absent; antenna 0.85 mm long, much longer than head, distinctly hairy, with 14 flagellomeres, all covered with long setae (shortest 0.05 mm long, longest 0.37 mm long), pedicel broad and short, rounded, 13 th flagellomere longest, 0.40 mm long; 14 th flagellomere with apical nipple; eye bare but deformed, with apically expanded dorsomedial extension; mouthparts lacking functional mandibles; all palpomeres with numerous setae, palp segment 3 cylindrical; postocular setae present; outer vertical setae present, frontal and inner vertical setae absent. Thorax 0.74 mm long, 0.33 mm wide, 0.67 mm high; postnotum and scutellum not visible; scutal tubercle absent; supraalar and prealar setae not visible; acrostichals present; dorsocentrals biserial; preepisternal setae absent. Wing macropterous, more than 1.30 mm long, 0.31 mm wide, hyaline, with numerous macrotrichia present; anal vein An 2 absent; radius with 3 branches R 1, R 2+3, and R; R 2+3 well separated from R 1 and R 4+5, R 2+3 apically forked into R 2 and R 3; costa ending just beyond insertion of last branch of radius, produced by 0.1 mm, more than length of crossvein RM, ending almost at M; only M and M 3+4 present; cross­vein MCu present; cubital fork proximal and beyond to cross­vein MCu, cross­vein RM 0.08 mm long, distal of MCu. Halter not visible. Fore femur 0.52 mm long, tibia 0.45 mm long, tarsus 1.11 mm long; mid femur 0.7 mm long, tibia 0.58 mm long, tarsus 1.06 mm long, hind femur 0.58 mm long, tibia 0.6 mm long, tarsus 1.20 mm long; all tibial spurs with lateral teeth, comb­like, those of hind legs not flattened, 2 hind leg tibial spurs 0.04 mm long and 0.05 mm long; 4 th tarsomeres of all legs cylindrical, not cordiform; hind tibial comb of 1 row. Abdomen 1.7 mm long, 0.21 mm wide; gonostylus 0.08 mm long, 0.05 mm wide at base, covered with numerous setae, especially disposed in tuft at apex; gonocoxite 0.16 mm long, 0.08 mm wide at base, numerous setae on inner and outer surface of gonocoxites; anal point not visible, volsella absent.

4+5

1+2

1+2

Discussion: This fossil falls in the genus Brundiniella for the same reasons as above (see discussion for B. soumyia ). The body of Brundiniella patriciae , 2 mm long, is distinctly shorter than that of Brundiniella soumyia , 3.62 mm long. The gonostylus is covered with numerous setae, disposed in a tuft at the apex. This is the main character for this species. For these reasons, we recognize a new species, if not a new genus.

Material: holotype PA 15044, paratype PA 145 1/3 and PA 15001, all males.

FIGURE 4. Brundiniella patriciae n. sp., paratype PA 145 1/3, photograph of male genitalia. FIGURE 7. Brundiniella glabrata n. sp., holotype PA 3813, drawing of male genitalia (scale bar = 0.1 mm).