Iotacypha zherikhini Shcherbakov,, 2024

Shcherbakov, D. E., Bashkuev, A. S. & Shmakov, A. S., 2024, A new genus of Lophioneuridae (Thysanoptera s. l.) with elytrized forewings from mid-Cretaceous Burmese amber, Russian Entomological Journal 33 (3), pp. 272-275 : 274

Iotacypha zherikhini Shcherbakov,

Bashkuev et Shmakov, sp.n.

Figs 1–8 .

MATERIAL. Holotype PIN 5608 /173, female; paratypes PIN 5608 /279, 281, females, 280, male, 19b, female mesonotum with forewings, 128f, pair of isolated male forewings — Burmese amber, Hukawng Valley, Kachin State, Myanmar; mid-Cretaceous (Albian–Cenomanian).

DESCRIPTION. Smallest lophioneurids: body length 0.4–0.65 mm (as preserved). Subbrachypterous. Forewings 0.6–0.8 mm long, weakly elongated (2.1–2.3:1), deeply convex, strongly sclerotized (especially proximally), shallowly tectiform in repose; wing base pale; membrane translucent, covered with stub-like microtrichia and fine dark hexagonal areolation, cellules increase and somewhat fade towards apex; veins dark, raised, beset with strong curved setae (including distal C). C not carinate, Sc absent. RA sigmoidal, as long as wing width, leaving short R+M stem about its midlength (short RP+M stem developed). Arculus (basal m-cu crossvein) between R+M and CuA closing broad basal cell. RP and M both forked about 2/3 wing length, RP1 and M2 transverse, oblique RP2 and M1 fused for a short distance, forming petiole of cell enclosing wing apex. Discal cell bordered by 4 cells. Clavus short and broad, with two anal veins. Hind wings narrow, broadly rounded at apex; veins dark; R+M+CuA stem dividing distal to 1/2 wing length, R and M separating distal to 1/3 wing length; R, M and CuA subtransverse; claval furrow distinct; clavus with areolation, more pronounced posteriorly along thick marginal vein.

Antennae 7-segmented, at most 1/2 as long as forewing; scape and pedicel stout; flagellum moderately slender; first and last flagellomeres shortest, at least two terminal flagellomeres with very long curved setae. Eyes protruding, rounded; ommatidia few in number, loosely arranged. Cranium in anterior aspect transverse with lower margin trapezoidal; lateral ocelli near eyes; median ocellus near base of clypeus; clypeus oblong-ovate. Mouth cone elongated with dark apex; maxillary palps moderately long, stout, 2-segmented, 2nd segment long, with very long falcate fleshy seta near base; labial palps short, unsegmented, each with short fleshy seta beyond midlength. Pronotum transverse, saddle-shaped; mesoscutum subtriangular. Legs rather short, hind tibia less than 1/4 forewing length. Hind coxae largest. Tibiae with rows of setae. Tarsi 2-segment- ed, basitarsus about 1/2 distitarsus length; two slender curved claws. Female and male genitalia very small, directed dorsally as preserved. Ovipositor as long as hind tarsus, concealed between last tergite and sternite, valvulae not cutting.

Sexually dimorphic. Females larger than males: body length 0.6–0.65 vs 0.4 mm (as preserved). Female forewings larger (about 0.8 mm long), more narrowly rounded at apex, RP1 apex more distant from RA, discal cell longer than each of two preapical cells, areolation coarser and darker; male forewings smaller (0.6–0.7 mm long), more broadly rounded at apex, RP1 apex nearer to RA, discal cell about as long as each of two preapical cells, areolation finer and paler. Very long curved setae on two terminal flagellomeres in females, on all flagellomeres in males. Female abdomen longer and wider than head + thorax, pregenital segments sclerotized, dark; male abdomen about as long and wide as head + thorax, pregenital segments translucent.

ETYMOLOGY. In memory of paleoentomologist Vladimir Zherikhin, who made a great contribution to our knowledge of lophioneurids.

Competing interests. The authors declare no competing interests.

Figures

Figs 1–8. Iotacypha zherikhini Shcherbakov, Bashkuev et Shmakov, gen. et sp.n. (photographs by Dmitry Vorontsov, except 3): 1 — female paratype PIN 5608/281, habitus, dorsal; 2–4 —female holotype PIN 5608/173: 2 — habitus, ventral (a, apical cell; d, discal cell; pa, preapical cell); 3 — head, frontal (arrows, lateral ocelli); 4 — apex of abdomen, caudal; 5–7 — male paratype PIN 5608/280: 5 — habitus, dorsal; 6 — head and antenna, frontal (arrow, median ocellus); 7 — hind tibia and tarsus; 8 — female paratype PIN 5608/279, head and antenna, frontal. Scale bars: 1, 2, 5 — 0.2 mm; 3, 4, 6–8 — 0.1 mm. Рис. 1–8. Iotacypha zherikhini Shcherbakov, Bashkuev et Shmakov, gen. et sp.n. (фото ДмитриЯ Воронцова, кроме 3): 1 — паратип ПИН 5608/281, самка, обЩий вид сверху; 2–4 — голотип ПИН 5608/173, самка: 2 — обЩий вид сниЗу (a – апикальнаЯ, d – дискальнаЯ, pa – преапикальнаЯ Ячейки); 3 — голова спереди (стрелки – боковые глаЗки); 4 — верШина брюШка сЗади; 5–7 —паратип ПИН 5608/280, самец: 5 — обЩий вид сверху; 6 — голова и усик спереди (стрелка – срединный глаЗок); 7 — ЗаднЯЯ голень и лапка; 8 —паратип ПИН 5608/279, самка, голова и усик спереди. Длина масШтабных линеек: 1, 2, 5 — 0,2 мм; 3, 4, 6–8 — 0,1 мм.