Microcostaphron parvus, Ortega-Blanco & Rasnitsyn & Delclòs, 2010

Ortega-Blanco, Jaime, Rasnitsyn, Alexander P. & Delclòs, Xavier, 2010, A new family of ceraphronoid wasps from Early Cretaceous Álava Amber, Spain, Acta Palaeontologica Polonica 55 (2), pp. 265-276 : 272

Microcostaphron parvus sp. nov.

Figs. 4 , 5 .

Etymology: From the Latin parvus meaning small, in reference to the small size of the specimen.

Type material: Holotype: MCNA 8769. Male. Specimen preserved in a drop of very clear polished amber of 3 × 2 × 0.9 mm, embedded in a piece of epoxy resin of 8 × 6 × 1 mm. The preservation of the exoskeleton is very translucent which impedes a clear view of some sclerite margins. Tarsomeres are preserved only in the left foreleg.

Type locality: Peñacerrada I, close to Moraza village .

Type horizon: Escucha Formation.

Diagnosis.—As for the genus.

Material.—Only holotype.

Description.—Total body length 1.36 mm excluding genitalia. Head transverse, deeply emarginated behind, with temples very narrow, without carinated margin before occipital carina. Compound eyes covering almost complete lateral surface of head. Ocelli not visible. Flagellum 9 segmented, elbowed between scape and pedicel. Scape longer than pedicel and first flagellomere combined. Flagellomeres slightly longer than wide, sub−equal in size and shape except for the first one somewhat constricted at base, and the last one longer and tapered.

Mesosoma barely longer than metasoma. Pronotum elongate, dorsally visible, not covered by mesoscutum. Mesoscutum short, with faintly impressed notauli seen only posteriorly, apparently wide separated, no visible median mesoscutal sulcus. Scutellum covering slightly less than half the mesosoma length. Mesosoma abruptly declivous slightly beyond scutellar apex, apparently not sculptured. Fore wings with moderately abundant microtrichia, mainly anteriorly near the wing base. Costal vein weakly visible by preservation. Sc+R weakly sclerotized, not visible along basal third, widened at pterostigmal contact. Sc+R slightly curved leaving a thin but distinct costal space between mid length of R and pterostigma. Pterostigma three times as long as high, more or less semi circular, almost as long as Rs, with some distinct structures (possibly 2–5 sensilla). R very short beyond pterostigma. Rs+2r−rs distinctly angled sub−basally, arising from basal third of pterostigma, reaching wing margin very faintly. Hind wings not seen. Metacoxa not well seen but apparently wide and flattened. Metafemur slender, without any marginal or distal row or comb of spines or stiff setae. Pro− and mesotibia each with two thin and short apical spurs. Metatibia narrow, just slightly widened apically, without comb of distal setae (or not preserved).

Metasoma fusiform with first abdominal segment small, short, tube−like. First gastral segment the longest; 2 nd to 6 th sub−equal in length, gradually narrowing in width. Male genitalia protruded except basally, with gonostylus distinctly arching, about three times as long as wide, of sub−equal width except for rounded apex, with at least six long apical setae. Gonocoxal plates short, with apical margins sub−parallel. Penis and volsellae not well seen, very short if correctly identified, toothed digits probably present.

Geographic and stratigraphic range.—Exclusively from the type locality and type horizon.

Figures

Fig. 4. Ceraphronoid wasp Microcostaphron parvus gen. et sp. nov., holotype male MCNA 8769; Peñacerrada I, Albian. A. Dorso−lateral view. B. Detail of genitalia. C. Detail of left pro− and mesotibial spurs, apparently two on each tibia. D. Detail of antennae showing relatively elongate, slightly constrained first flagellomere. E. Detail of pterostigma with two small distinct structures that may be sensillae. F. Detail of the constricted attachment of metasoma to mesosoma.

Fig. 5. Camera lucida drawings of Microcostaphron parvus gen. et sp. nov., holotype MCNA 8769; Peñacerrada I, Albian. A. Dorso−lateral view. B. Ventral view.