Nymphites bimaculatus Shi, Makarkin et Ren

Shi, Chaofan, Makarkin, Vladimir N., Yang, Qiang, Archibald, S. Bruce & Ren, Dong, 2013, New species of Nymphites Haase (Neuroptera: Nymphidae) from the Middle Jurassic of China, with a redescription of the type species of the genus, Zootaxa 3700 (3), pp. 393-410 : 398-403

Nymphites bimaculatus Shi, Makarkin et Ren , sp. nov.

( Figs 3–8 )

Diagnosis. May be distinguished from Nymphites priscus by crossveins present between all branches of CuA, MP; from Nymphites sp. A by a more obtuse angle between Cu and its branches.

Description. Holotype CNU-NEU-NN2011116PC. Thorax, abdomen fragmentarily preserved; details not visible. Metafemora relatively stout. Metatibiae long, slender with remnants of terminal spurs ( Fig. 4 A); covered with dense, relatively short hairs. Tarsus covered with fine, short hairs; four proximal tarsomeres distally with row of strong dark bristles. Claws moderately large; not strongly curved; basally not strongly dilated.

Forewing: left wing 37.5 mm long as preserved (estimated complete length 38 mm), 11 mm wide; right wing 33 mm as preserved, 12.2 mm wide. One trichosor between tips of each two veins along apical, outer margins of wings; three-four trichosors between tips of each two veins along hind margin in proximal half of wing ( Fig. 5 ). Costal space narrow, strongly dilated after fusion of ScP, RA. Proximal subcostal veinlets mostly simple, few forked; all distal subcostal veinlets once or twice forked; no crossveins between them. ScP, RA stout for entire length. Subcostal space narrow, slightly dilated distally; no distinct crossveins detected (but see Remarks). Veinlets of ScP + RA dichotomously branched; no crossveins between them. RP smooth, not zigzagged; originating near wing base. Ten irregularly spaced crossveins between RA, RP before fusion of ScP + RA; not detected after fusion. RP with 14 (left wing), 13 (right wing) branches; all dichotomously branched ( RP 1, RP 2 more deeply than others). Crossveins in radial space rather numerous, irregularly spaced in proximal two thirds; rare in distal portion, most form outer gradate series. M incurved; forked far proximad origin of RP 1. One preserved crossvein connecting RP, M before fork. MA, MP parallel. MA branched (probably dichotomously) relatively close to wing margin (incompletely preserved). MP zigzagged distally, pectinately branched; with four branches, two deeply forked (left wing), five shallowly forked branches (right wing); four crossveins between them. CuA long, pectinately branched with four long branches, two-three deeply forked; four crossveins between these. CuP long, parallel to posterior margin; pectinately forked: left wing, with six long branches, two proximal-most deeply forked; right wing, nine branches, four of them deeply forked; no crossveins between these. All preserved branches of CuA once or twice shallowly forked. CuP space twice wider than intracubital space. AA3+4 long, pectinately branched, with two long branches, very shallowly forked (left wing); dichotomous, with anterior branch very shallowly forked, posterior branch deeply forked (right wing). AP1+2 deeply forked; anterior branch forked, posterior at most shallowly forked (incompletely preserved). Crossveins between RP 1 and MA, MA and MP, MP and CuA, CuA and CuP rather numerous, irregularly spaced. Two crossveins between CuP, AA3+4; one crossvein between AA3+4, AP1+2. Wing patterns consisted of two spots near hind wing margin, more or less rounded at MA, elongate at outer gradate series in radial space.

Hind wing: left wing about 36 mm long as preserved (estimated complete length 37 mm), 10 mm wide; right wing 31.5 mm as preserved, 10.8 mm wide. Trichosors preserved between each vein pair terminating along margin, one medially, three-four basally ( Fig. 5 ). Costal space narrower than in forewing. Subcostal veinlets mostly simple in proximal 2/3; once or twice shallowly forked distally. ScP, RA stout for entire length. Subcostal space narrow; no crossveins detected. Preserved veinlets of ScP + RA dichotomously branched; no crossveins connecting them detected. RP smooth, not zigzagged; originating near wing base. Eleven irregularly arranged crossveins between RA, RP before fusion of ScP + RA detected; not detected after fusion. RP with 11 branches; RP 1 to RP 3 deeply forked. Crossveins in radial space rather numerous, irregularly spaced in proximal proximally; rare or absent distally. Origin of M not preserved. MA dichotomously branched relatively close to wing margin. MP pectinate branched, with five branches, two-three deeply forked; three-four crossveins between them. CuA long, pectinately branched with 12 long branches, three-four deeply forked; 11–12 crossveins between them forming gradate series. All preserved branches of MP, CuA once or twice shallowly forked. CuP incompletely preserved, short, deeply forked. Anal veins not preserved. Crossveins between RP 1 and MA, MA and MP, MP and CuA rather numerous, irregularly spaced. Two-three crossveins between CuP and AA3+4.

Paratype CNU-NEU-NN2011117PC. Forewing 38.4 mm long, 11.5 mm wide as preserved (estimated complete length about 40–41 mm, width about 12 mm). Trichosors preserved in distal part of anterior wing margin. Costal space relatively narrow; strongly dilated after fusion of ScP, RA. Subcostal veinlets not preserved proximally; mainly forked medially; all once or twice shallowly forked distally; no crossveins connecting them. ScP, RA stout for entire length. Subcostal space moderately broad; slightly dilated distally; no crossveins detected. ScP + RA entering margin well after wing apex; its veinlets dichotomously branched; no crossveins connecting these. RP smooth not zigzagged; originating near wing base. Ten crossveins between RA, RP before fusion of ScP + RA widely spaced; not detected after fusion. RP with 11 branches; all dichotomously branched ( RP 1, RP 3, RP 4 more deeply than others). Crossveins in radial space rather numerous, irregularly spaced in proximal two thirds; rare in distal portion, most form outer gradate series. M slightly incurved; forked far proximad origin of RP 1. One preserved crossvein connecting RP, M before fork. MA, MP parallel. MA branched (probably dichotomously) relatively close to wing margin. MP pectinately branched, with four branches; three crossveins between them. CuA long, pectinately branched with five long branches; four crossveins between them. CuP long, parallel to posterior margin; pectinate branched with six long branches; no crossveins between these. Branches of CuA, CuP incompletely preserved; some rather deeply forked. CuP space more than twice wider than intracubital space. Several irregularly spaced crossveins between CuA, CuP. AA3+4 long, pectinately branched, with three branches; preserved branches shallowly forked; proximal branch deeply forked. AA3+4, CuP closely approach basally. AP1+2 deeply forked. Crossveins between RP 1 and MA, MA and MP, MP and CuA, CuA and CuP rather numerous, irregularly spaced. One crossvein between CuP and AA3+4, AA3+4 and AP1+2, AP1+2 and AP3+4. Wing color pattern: two spots near hind wing margin, at MA, at outer gradate series in radial space.

Hind wing about 37 mm long, 10.4 mm wide. Trichosors preserved in distal part of anterior wing margin. Costal space narrower than in forewing. Subcostal veinlets simple proximally, medially; once or twice shallowly forked distally. ScP, RA stout for entire length. Subcostal space moderately broad; slightly dilated distally; no crossveins detected. ScP + RA entering margin well after wing apex; its veinlets dichotomously branched; no crossveins connecting these. RP smooth, not zigzagged; originating near wing base. Nine crossveins between RA, RP before fusion of ScP + RA detected, widely spaced; not detected after fusion. RP with 12 branches; RP 1 to RP 4 deeply forked. Crossveins in radial space rather numerous, irregularly spaced in proximal proximally; rare distally, most of them form outer gradate series. Origin of M not preserved. MA branched relatively close to wing margin. MP pectinately branched, with four branches, two deeply forked; two crossveins between these. CuA long, pectinately branched, with eight long branches; all but one deeply forked; seven crossveins between them forming gradate series. CuP incompletely preserved, short, probably deeply forked. Anal veins not preserved. Crossveins between RP 1 and MA, MA and MP, MP and CuA rather numerous, irregularly spaced. One crossvein between CuP and AA3+4, AA3+4 and AP1+2, AP1+2 and AP3+4.

Material. Holotype CNU-NEU-NN2011116PC (part, counterpart), four well preserved wings and part of a poorly preserved thorax and abdomen. Paratype CNU-NEU-NN2011117PC (part, counterpart), a forewing and hind wing, overlapping. Both specimens are deposited in CNUB.

Etymology. The specific epithet is formed from the Latin bi, two, and maculatus, spotted, in reference to the presence of two small spots on the forewing.

Type locality and horizon. Daohugou Village, Wuhua Township, Ningcheng County, Inner Mongolia, China. Middle Jurassic, Bathonian/Callovian; Jiulongshan Formation.

Remarks. The new species is assigned to Nymphites based on the strong similarity of its hind wing venation to that of the type species N. priscus , e.g., irregularly arranged crossveins in the radial space; the four pectinate branches of MP; the presence of a series of gradate crossveins between branches of CuA; short CuP. Nevertheless, this assignment is preliminary because of the incompleteness of the holotype.

The holotype and paratypes of Nymphites bimaculatus sp. nov. have similar venation in general, and identical forewing patterning (two small spots). Their venation differs in details, but these differences do not extend beyond those of the holotype left and right wings.

Although subcostal crossveins in this species are not confidently detected, we assume that this is likely an artefact of preservation, and that a few fine crossveins (not distinctly visible) and features of thyridiate crossveins (ScP with small scarce projections posteriorly) are probably present.

We explain the clear difference in width noted between the right (wider) and left (narrower) wings as a result of post-mortem plastic distortion, extension of the matrix approximately along the plane of the length of the left wings. Therefore, we estimate that the actual forewing length of the holotype is probably 34–35 mm (not 37 mm).

Figures

FIGURE 3. Nymphites bimaculatus sp. nov. Holotype CNU-NEU-NN 2011116. A, part (wetted with alcohol). B, counterpart (dry). Scale bar = 10 mm.

FIGURE 4. Hind legs of Nymphites (wetted with alcohol). A, holotype of N. bimaculatus sp. nov., CNU-NEU-NN 2011116 C. B, Nymphites sp. A, specimen CNU-NEU-NN 2011118 C. bta, basitarsus; cl, claw; ti, tibia; ts, tibial spur. Scale bar = 1 mm.

FIGURE 5. Nymphites bimaculatus sp. nov. Holotype CNU-NEU-NN 2011116 P, wing bases showing several trichosors (arrows) between tips of each vein pair terminating along the hind margin of the fore- and hind wings (wetted with alcohol). Scale bar = 1 mm.

FIGURE 6. Nymphites bimaculatus sp. nov. Wing venation of the holotype CNU-NEU-NN 2011116. A, left forewing. B, right forewing. C, left hind wing. D, right hind wing. Scale bar = 10 mm (all to scale).

FIGURE 7. Nymphites bimaculatus sp. nov. Paratype CNU-NEU-NN 2011117. A, part. B, counterpart. Scale bar = 10 mm (both to scale).

FIGURE 8. Nymphites bimaculatus sp. nov. Wing venation of the paratype CNU-NEU-NN 2011117. A, forewing. B, hind wing. Scale bar = 10 mm (both to scale).