Liberitoma Sun, Rasnitsyn, Zhuang & Shih, 2024

Sun, Chenhui, Rasnitsyn, Alexandr P., Wedmann, Sonja, Zhuang, Jialiang, Shih, Chungkun, Ren, Dong & Gao, 2024, Revisions * new taxa * and venation transformations of the sawfly family Blasticotomidae sensu lato (Hymenoptera: ºenthredinoidea) highlight the evolution of the basal Hymenoptera, Zoological Journal of the Linnean Society 202 (1), pp. 1-19 : 6

Liberitoma Sun, Rasnitsyn, Zhuang & Shih gen. nov.

Type species: Liberitoma tenella Sun * Rasnitsyn* Zhuang & Shih sp. nov.

http://zoobank.org/ urn:lsid:zoobank.org:act:470D88B3-89FE-45AF-937E-41D9D4A49581

Etymology: The generic name is a combination of the Latin ‘liber-’* meaning free and unfettered* referring to the unique triple-branched Sc in the forewing* and ‘-toma’ from the type genus Undatoma Rasnitsyn * 1977. Gender feminine.

Included species: Besides the type species* Liberitoma compta Sun * Rasnitsyn* Zhuang & Shih sp. nov. and Liberitoma incompleta Sun * Rasnitsyn* Zhuang & Shih sp. nov.

Diagnosis: Antenna with thread four-segmented as preserved* at least one-third as long as first flagellomere. Forewing with pterostigma wide* sclerotized; Sc complete (with stalk and apical fork) and additionally with secondary hind branch basal to Sc 2 * all branches ending before 1-Rs separation; 1-Rs developed; 1-M longer than 2-Cu. Hind wing with Sc two-branched and with series of basal hamuli.

Remarks: The most important character supporting the new genus at a generic level is the unique presence of an additional hind branch of Sc* a characteristic seemingly unparalleled in any other hymenopterans. Yet we consider it as a stabilized character of diagnostic value rather than an individual variation because it is visible in all specimens available with the respective wing part preserved.