Cimbrophlebia leahyi, Archibald, Bruce, 2009

Archibald, Bruce, 2009, New Cimbrophlebiidae (Insecta: Mecoptera) from the Early Eocene at McAbee, British Columbia, Canada and Republic, Washington, USA, Zootaxa 2249, pp. 51-62 : 54-56

Cimbrophlebia leahyi , n. sp.

( Figs. 2 A–C; 3A–C)

Diagnosis. Wing distinguished from those of other Cimbrophlebia species by the following: 1), 2A morphology: six branches: two basal branches pectinate, minimum of four dichotomous distal branches separates it from C. bittaciformis [seven: three basal branches pectinate, four distal branches dichotomous], C. flabelliformis [four pectinate branches], not known to be distinct from C. brooksi , C. westae (2A is little known by preservation); 2), Shape: wide wing, length about four times width is similar to that of C. westae , C. flabelliformis , separates it from C. brooksi [distinctly narrower: length about five times width], C. bittaciformis [also slender (see C. flabelliformis remarks)]; 4), Colouration: distinct from that of C. flabelliformis , C. brooksi , C. westae , C. bittaciformis (see descriptions, C. flabelliformis remarks, Figs. 1 A; 2A, B; 4A, C; 6A, C; 7A).

Description: holotype (sex undetermined). As in diagnosis, Figs. 2 A–C; 3A–C, and the following. Head: preserved characters as known in C. bittaciformis : long rostrum; large compound eyes; long antennae, ~ 14 mm preserved (incomplete). Thorax: poorly preserved. Legs: long, thin; tibial spurs, single, large tarsal claw preserved; dense, small hairs, some interspersed coarse, larger hairs detected on femur, tibia. Wing: length ~ 31 mm, width ~ 8 mm (likely, by preservation). Colouration (as preserved, see Fig. 2 A, B): wing mostly dark, but 2A region light, light spots as above, Fig 2 A–B. Membrane rugose, except possibly in apical portion. Sc, R1 as in C. flabelliformis . Rs with five branches. M with four branches; Cu1, Cu2, 1A: little known by preservation; 2A, long, branched as in diagnosis; 3A not detected. Crossveins detected: one r1-sc, three csc2, two rs-rs, one rs-m. Abdomen: partially, indistinctly preserved.

Type material. Holotype: TRUIPR L-018 F-1160 (part) and TRUIPR L-018 F-1161 (counterpart). A rather complete specimen, in the collection of TRU. Labelled: Holotype Cimbrophlebia leahyi Archibald, 2009 . Collected and donated to TRU by John Leahy, 2008.

Locality and age. McAbee, British Columbia, Canada; unnamed formation of the Kamloops Group, Okanagan Highlands; Early Eocene.

Etymology. The specific epithet is a patronym formed from the surname of the collector, John Leahy, recognizing his generosity by the loan of the holotype (and numerous other specimens) to the author and subsequent donation to the TRU collection.

Remarks. The holotype is the most complete specimen of the family reported here, with body parts and all four wings attached. Preserved body parts conform to those reported for C. bittaciformis ( Willmann, 1977) and Malmocimbrophlebia buergeri ( Bechly & Schweigert, 2000), although preservation does not allow determination of whether the small hairs on the leg are arranged in rows as in C. bittaciformis (Willmann’s Fig. 6 ).

Figures

FIGURE 1. Cimbrophlebia flabelliformis, holotype wing UCCIPR L- 18 F- 763. A, photograph (part); B, drawing from part and counterpart. A, B to scale = 1 cm.

FIGURE 2. Cimbrophlebia leahyi, holotype. A, photograph of the counterpart TRUIPR L- 018 F- 1161; B, photograph of the part TRUIPR L- 018 F- 1160; C, drawing from both the part and counterpart. A – C to scale = 1 cm.

FIGURE 6. Cimbrophlebia westae, holotype wing SRUI 0 99600. A, photograph; B, drawing; C, colouration (simplified to two shades) of C. westae wing, note basal portion obscured by staining, rendered blank. A, B to scale = 1 cm; C scale = 1 cm.