Apticoccus longitenuis, Vea & Grimaldi, 2015
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publication ID |
https://doi.org/ 10.1206/3823.1 |
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persistent identifier |
https://treatment.plazi.org/id/03EF7A1B-FFC7-FFAE-02F9-F9A4FE334934 |
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treatment provided by |
Carolina |
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scientific name |
Apticoccus longitenuis |
| status |
sp. nov. |
Apticoccus longitenuis , new species
Figures 9B–C View FIGURE 9 , 11 View FIGURE 11
TYPE LOCALITY: Lebanon: Central Lebanon: Ain Dara , Caza Baabda, Mouhafazet Jabal Loubnon. Early Cretaceous (Lower Aptian after existing geological maps, but this age is debatable) .
TYPE: Holotype AD-20, alate male, in a 3 × 2.5 × 0.5 mm yellow, transparent, rectangular amber piece, embedded in Canada balsam and mounted in epoxy between two coverslips; specimen entire and in good condition with wings spread, dorsal surface slightly darkened, ventral surface mostly covered by a large air bubble; accessible views: ventral and dorsal; Dany Azar amber collection, provisionally deposited in the Muséum National d’Histoire Naturelle.
ETYMOLOGY: The epithet longitenuis comes from the combination of the Latin adjective longus, “long,” and the Latin adjective tenuis, “thin,” referring to the long, needle-shaped penial sheath.
DIAGNOSIS: A. longitenuis differs from other Apticoccus spp. by the following characters: head narrow, thorax wide, abdomen wide but abruptly tapering, penial sheath long and needlelike, ca. 1/4 body length.
DESCRIPTION: Body minute, total length 615 μm, widest at mesothorax, 175 μm. Head (fig. 11A): Short, round, 90 μm long, 50 μm wide; ocular sclerite well developed, with setae, bearing 6 simple eyes of same size (each ca. 15 μm wide), dorsal eyes positioned more anteriorly than ventral eyes, both almost touching dorsally and ventrally. Ocelli present laterally. Dorsal midcranial ridge absent. Ventral midcranial ridge present. Long setae present on both sides of anterior margin of head, between antennae. Antenna (fig. 11B): 10-segmented, inserted on anterodorsal side of head, bases almost touching, total length 300–320 μm; measurements for each antennal segment (in μm) scape ca. 20; pedicel 30; flagellar segments III to X all filiform of approximate same length; III 30–35; IV 25; V 35–40; VI 30–40; VII 25–30; VIII 35; IX 30; X 35–40. Setae about same length as segment width (15–20 μm). Apical segment narrower, bearing bristles distally and fleshy setae. Thorax (fig. 11A): Head and thorax separated by a slight neck constriction. Prothorax well developed but membranous. Ridges on prothorax not observable. Dorsally: prescutum oval but pointed anteriorly, without prescutal setae, not obviously separated from scutum; scutum with a medial, less sclerotized area extending from prescutum to scutellum; scutellum rectangular and transversely narrow; mesopostnotum well developed. All ventral meso- and metathoracic structures obscured by a large bubble. Wings: Forewings both well preserved, oval with narrow base, rounded apex, parallel sided medially, 715 μm long and 135 μm widest; subcostal ridge extending from base of wing to more than 3/4 of wing length. Cubital ridge present, bifurcating at 1/10 of wing length from base, extending to almost same level as subcostal ridge. Alar setae and sensoria absent, microtrichia present throughout wing surface. Alar lobe present. Hamulohalteres wide, ca. 30 μm long; with two hamuli. Legs (fig. 11C): Robust, all of subequal length, cuticular reticulations absent; prothoracic legs: coxa not visible; trochanter and femur, 120 μm long, 30 μm wide, with a few hairlike setae (ca. 10 μm); tibia: 100 μm long, 15 μm wide, with a few hairlike setae, with one differentiated tibial spur; tarsus 1-segmented, 40 μm long, tarsal digitules finely clavate, longer than claw; claw short and curved, claw digitule and denticle not detected. Abdomen: Wider at base and tapering gradually posteriad, 380 μm long (210 μm without genital segment), 85 μm widest. Tergites and sternites well developed and segmentation easy to delineate, mostly sclerotized medially. Abdominal setae and pores not visible. Genital segment (fig. 11D): Penial sheath with a broad anterior capsule, and extremely elongate (170 μm long), ca. 1/4 of total body length, 30 µm wide, anteriorly with three lateral pairs of setae, anterior pair shorter, posterior pairs 4 times longer. Aedeagus needlelike and pointed at apex, not clearly differentiated from penial sheath. Eversible endophallus absent.
Genera incertae familiae
Xiphos , new genus
TYPE SPECIES: Xiphos vani , n. sp., by present designation and monotypy.
OCCURRENCE: Lebanon, Central Lebanon (Hammana). Early Cretaceous.
ETYMOLOGY: The generic name Xiphos comes from xiphos, an ancient Greek double-edged sword, referring to the similar shape of the penial sheath. Gender: masculine.
DIAGNOSIS: Body small but robust, head with two compound eyes bearing 55–60 ommatidia, ocelli found laterally; antennae filiform, weakly trinodose, undifferentiated setae on apical segment; ventral ridges forming a five-armed star, narrow on first 1/2 anterior of head; prescutum oval but horizontally elongate; scutum with an oval membranous area medially, scutellum triangular; forewings with a subcostal ridge, cubital and posterior flexing patch; legs slender, with 1-segmented tarsus, tarsal digitules clavate but claw digitule absent; dorsal abdominal segments VII and VIII with each a row of 10 tubular ducts; penial sheath extremely elongate.
SPECIES INCLUDED: X. vani , n. sp.
COMMENTS: Assorted features suggest a close relationship with Xylococcidae and related families: the body shape, head with compound eyes, elongate antennae without particular setal differentiation, the wing shape, and the dorsal metathoracic prescutum oval and elongate shaped, triangular scutellum. However, Xiphos also possesses a peculiar combination of characters. The presence of a membranous area medially on the scutum is found in Coelostomidiidae and Monophlebidae , and the two lateral areas on the corners of the triangular scutellum is characteristic of the Recent Callipappidae, Coelostomidiidae , and Monophlebidae (but also found in extinct Grohnidae , which was described as a xylococcid-like family). Xiphos cannot be assigned to any of these families due to the differences, for instance, in antennal structure (very short setae distributed on one side of the antennal segments in Callipappus , and binodose or trinodose segments in Monophlebidae ), the very narrow posterior margin of basisternum, and the multiple claw digitules in Coelostomidiidae . Table 2 suggests a close similarity with Grohnidae , although the tarsal digitules in Xiphos are clavate. Finally, the elongate and spinelike penial sheath of Xiphos is peculiar for any taxa related to Xylococcidae . The other genera with compound eyes and bearing this type of penial sheath are Kozarius , n. gen., and Alacrena , n. gen. Such an elongate penial sheath is also found in Burmacoccus Koteja from Burmese amber, although the compound eyes have significantly less ommatidia. Finally, the morphological phylogenetic analysis indicates that Xiphos , n. gen., is sister group to the extinct lineage composed of Alacrena , Lebanococcus , and Kozarius , n. gen. Therefore, Xiphos does not seem to be related to xylococcid-like families. For now and until further study, we consider Xiphos incertae familiae.
Xiphos vani , new species
Figures 12A–B View FIGURE 12 , 13 View FIGURE 13
TYPE LOCALITY: Lebanon: Central Lebanon: Mdeyrij / Hammana : Caza Baabda: Mouhafazet Jabal Loubnon. Lower Cretaceous .
TYPE: Holotype 1215, alate male, in a 6.5 × 5 × 0.5 yellow, transparent, polished amber piece, embedded in Canada balsam and mounted in epoxy between two coverslips; specimen very well preserved with both wings spread, abdomen obstructed by a large air bubble; Dany Azar amber collection, provisionally deposited in the Muséum National d’Histoire Naturelle.
ETYMOLOGY: The epithet comes from “ Van,” in memory of the first author’s father, Van Vea (1951–2011).
DIAGNOSIS: As for genus.
DESCRIPTION: Body small but robust, 1.44 mm long total, largest width at mesothorax, 328 μm. Head (fig. 13A): Transverse, dorsoventrally flattened, 300 μm wide, 100 μm long. Ocular sclerite with a pair of compound eyes protruding laterally, eye length 85–95 μm, each with about 55–60 ommatidia. Ocelli present posterior to compound eyes, 18 μm wide. Dorsal midcranial ridge well developed and probably extending to a postoccipital ridge. Ventral surface of head with ridges forming a five-armed star, comprising the midcranial ridge, starting on anterior margin and fusing with two preocular ridges and two preoral ridges. Ridges concentrated on anterior part of head. Antenna (fig. 13D): 10-segmented and long, total length 960–1000 μm; lengths of segments (in μm): scape 30–40; pedicel 35–40; flagellar segments III to X all filiform, slightly trinodose; III 75–82; IV 120– 125; V 120–130; VI 125–135; VII 120–125; VIII 105–110; IX 105–110; X 110–115. All flagellar segments covered with two sizes of setae: long hairlike setae (40–60 μm) and short hairlike setae (25 μm), randomly distributed. Apical segment without bristles or capitate setae. Thorax (fig. 13BC): Head and thorax separated by a slight neck constriction. Prothorax well developed and membranous. Ridges on prothorax not observable dorsally; ventrally, prosternum with a median ridge extending to basisternum. Mesothorax dorsally: prescutum suboval, transversely elongate (ca. 150 μm wide, 50 μm long), with prescutal setae; scutum with an oval membranous area medially, adjacent to prescutum but not touching scutellum, scutal setae present; scutellum triangular (ca. 160 μm wide, 70 μm long), with two lateral areas. Mesopostnotum short (45 μm long). Wings (fig. 12A): Forewing suboval, narrow at base but widening rapidly, almost parallel sided medially and rounded distally, 1135–1145 μm long and 460–465 μm at widest section; subcostal ridge extending from base of wing to more than 3/4 wing length. Cubital ridge starting at 270 μm from wing base and fading to wing midlength; posterior flexing patch beginning at almost same location aspr cubital ridge. Alar setae, microtrichia, and alar sensoria absent. Alar fold present. Hamulohaltere not visible. Legs (fig. 13E): Long and robust, cuticular reticulations absent; prolegs: coxa 60 μm long; trochanter and femur, 38 μm wide, 150 μm long on proleg, with a few hairlike setae; tibia: 170 long μm, 25 μm wide, with hairlike setae becoming spinelike ventrally; tarsus 1-segmented, 85 μm long, 16 μm wide; tarsal digitules narrowly clavate; claw narrow, 20 μm long, almost straight, claw digitules and denticles absent. Abdomen: Cylindrical, ca. 995 μm long (433 μm without penial sheath), 300 μm widest, progressively tapering posteriorly from segment VI. Tergites and sternites well developed and segmentation easy to delineate; without caudal extensions on abdominal segments. Tergite VII and VIII with each, one row of ca. 10 tubular ducts, extruding wax filaments. Genital segment (fig. 13F): Penial sheath elongate with a thick pointed apex, 560 μm long, 74 μm wide at base, becoming narrow and parallel sided at 125 μm from penial sheath base. Aedeagus slender and pointed at apex. Eversible endophallus not visible.
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