Ahstemiam McKellar & Engel

Perrichot, Vincent, Ortega-Blanco, Jaime, McKellar, Ryan C., Delclos, Xavier, Azar, Dany, Nel, Andre, Tafforeau, Paul & Engel, Michael S., 2011, New and revised maimetshid wasps from Cretaceous ambers (Hymenoptera, Maimetshidae), ZooKeys 130, pp. 421-453 : 439-440

Ahstemiam McKellar & Engel gen. n.

Type species.

Ahstemiam cellula McKellar & Engel, sp. n.

Diagnosis.

Total body length near 1.2 mm; compound eyes globular and protuberant; fine occipital carina present; pedicel ‘comma-shaped’ in lateral view, 0.54x length of scape and inserted deeply into scape’s apex; 14 flagellomeres, cylindrical in shape and progressively shortening; maxillary palpus with at least three palpomeres, ultimate palpomere with three apical stiff setae, penultimate palpomere with one apical and two mid-body stiff setae; labial palpus apparently with three palpomeres, all short and bearing numerous stiff setae; junction between Sc+R and Rs very close to pterostigma, 2Sc+R shorter than Rs; pterostigma elongate, longer than [2R1], with gradual apical taper; r-rs originating within apical one-third of pterostigmal length; 2R present as small stub; [1M] relatively small, apical corner (junction of Rs+M and 1m-cu crossvein) positioned posterior to pterostigma; [1Rs] triangular, bounded by very thin M posteriorly, 2Rs and 1rs-m forming anterior and apical margins of cell, both fade to become nebulous throughout most of cell’s length; first apparent metasomal segment much shorter than cell [2R1].

Etymology.

The new genus-group name is the inverse of the type genus, Maimetsha , and is considered a meaningless euphonious combination of letters. The name is designated to be feminine in gender.

Comments.

Ahstemiam is most similar to Maimetshorapia . The new genus differs in the presence of a prestigma (abscissa of R between 1Rs and pterostigma) that is only slightly inflated (as opposed to distinctly incrassate) and faded apically, as well as a first apparent metasomal tergum that is much shorter than cell [2R1]. The nebulous veins bordering the posterior edges of cell [1Rs], as well as the small size of the cell itself, are distinct among known members of the family Maimetshidae .