Feroseta prisca Poinar, 2006

ENGEL, MICHAEL S. & GRIMALDI, DAVID A., 2007, The Neuropterid Fauna of Dominican and Mexican Amber (Neuropterida: Megaloptera, Neuroptera), American Museum Novitates 3587, pp. 1-60 : 14-19

Feroseta prisca Poinar , nomen emendatum

Feroseta priscus Poinar, 2006: 412 .

COMMENTS: This species was only recently described from Miocene amber of the Dominican Republic. We have not had the privilege of examining the holotype, as it resides in a private collection, but the description and published sketches of the specimen demonstrate that it is not conspecific with the taxa we have established herein. The species was placed in a new genus, the validity of which seems somewhat dubious. We have not been able to further investigate the placement of this species, and it is hoped that future students of the Mantispidae will be able provide greater clarity on the affinity of this fossil. The construction of the generic name, Feroseta , indicates a feminine gender and the specific epithet, therefore, must be emended to prisca .

FAMILY CONIOPTERYGIDAE BURMEISTER

The dustywings, family Coniopterygidae , perhaps occupy a relatively basal position among planipennian families owing to the retention of a well-developed and projecting labrum in the larva ( Withycombe, 1924), although it has also been suggested that the family is more derived and allied to the Sisyridae and the Berothidae + Mantispidae + Dilaridae + Rhachiberothidae clade (e.g., Aspöck, 1992; Aspöck et al., 2001). There are approximately 460 living species presently recognized in the family (e.g., Meinander, 1972, 1990, 1995, 1998b; Sziraki, 1994, 1997: and various other supplements), which is distributed worldwide. Dustywings are relatively plant-specific and occur on conifers and deciduous trees or bushes. Adults and larvae are generalist predators, feeding on aphids, coccids, and mites, among other minute organisms.

At present, 16 fossil and two subfossil species of Coniopterygidae have been described (table 7), with the oldest being two species from the Late Jurassic of Eurasia. The fossil species were reviewed by Meinander (1975) with additions by Whalley (1980), Meinander (1998a), Grimaldi (2000), and Engel (2002b, 2004a). Until now only a single described species occurred in Dominican amber ( Meinander, 1998a). Here we describe two new species: one of the genus Coniopteryx and the other of Spiloconis . Today Coniopteryx is distributed worldwide, and at least two species occur in the West Indies ( Dominican Republic). The two species of apparently the genus Spiloconis would represent a remarkable extinction for the West Indian fauna, owing to the restricted presence of this genus to southeast Asia, Australia, and some Oceanic Pacific Islands. However, the monophyly of Spiloconis is uncertain and may be an artifact of unresolved specific relationships.

TABLE 7 Named Fossil Coniopterygidae a

Coniopteryx antiquua , new species figures 11–16

DIAGNOSIS: Body lacking typical scalelike setae, basal flagellomeres wider than long, and wing membranes hyaline.

DESCRIPTION: Total body length 1.05 (1.05–1.77) mm; forewing length 1.48 (1.41– 2.01) mm. Maxillary palpus normal, i.e., third segment slightly longer than broad. Frons slightly swollen between and above antennae, without hook. Antennae with whorls of setae, some as long as flagellomere width; basal flagellar articles wider than long, progressively becoming as wide as long. Integument pale brown, antennae concolorous. Body with sparse, minute setae, without scalelike setae; legs with scattered short setae, mostly on tibiae. Wing membrane hyaline; veins pale brown.

HOLOTYPE: Male; AMNH DR-14-25 ( fig. 11 ), Miocene amber of the Dominican Republic, northern mines.

PARATYPES: Female; AMNH DR-10-14 ( fig. 14 ), Miocene amber of the Dominican Republic . AMNH DR-14-268 ( fig. 12 ), Miocene amber of the Dominican Republic . AMNH DR-10-15 ( fig. 15 ), Miocene amber of the Dominican Republic . AMNH DR-14-853 ( fig. 13 ), Miocene amber of the Dominican Republic. MACT-2966 ( fig. 16 ), Miocene amber of the Dominican Republic. MACT-2760, Miocene amber of the Dominican Republic .

ETYMOLOGY: The specific epithet is taken from Latin antiquus and is a reference to the antiquity of the species.

268). 13. Paratype male ( DR-14-853 ) . 14. Paratype ( DR-10-14 ) . 15. Paratype ( DR-10-15 ) .

Spiloconis glaesaria Meinander figures 17, 18

Spiloconis glaesaria Meinander, 1998a: 33 .

DIAGNOSIS: A larger species with forewing length 2.33–2.35 mm and body size 2.00– 2.05 mm (latter metrics from holotype). Basalmost flagellomere similar to following segments, not distinctly swollen by comparison. Crossvein r-rs meeting stem of Rs slightly before R 2+3 /R 4+5 fork.

HOLOTYPE: Female; AMNH DR-10-59 ( fig. 17 ), Miocene amber of the Dominican Republic.

NEW MATERIAL: Female; AMNH DR- 14- 1094 ( fig. 18 ), Miocene amber of the Dominican Republic.

COMMENTS: Since this species was described a second female has been identified in the collection of the AMNH (refer to Meinander [1998a] for a description of the species). The second specimen reported herein agrees with the holotype except in the position of the distalmost seta on M being apicad of the junction of the basal rs-m and cua-m crossveins.

Figures

Figs. 11–15. Coniopteryx antiquua, new species. 11. Holotype (DR-14-25). 12. Paratype female (DR-014-

Fig. 16. Paratype of Coniopteryx antiquua, new species (MACT-2966).

Figs. 17, 18. Spiloconis glaesaria Meinander. 17. Holotype (DR-10-59). 18. Newly discovered female (DR-14-1094).