Cathayiblatta, Li, Zhu, Hong, Youchong & Yang, Ding, 2007

Li, Zhu, Hong, Youchong & Yang, Ding, 2007, A new Middle Triassic genus and species of Mylacridae (Blattodea) from China, Zootaxa 1660, pp. 53-59 : 56

Genus Cathayiblatta gen. nov.

Type species. Cathayiblatta longata sp. nov.

Diagnosis. Tegmen elongated, basally broad, and narrowing toward tip, lance-like. All the veins long and running parallel. Subcostal area cuniform and slightly shorter than wing. Three-branched ScA, six-branched ScP; R, M, CuA all divided into anterior and posterior parts: RA, RP, MA, MP, CuAa, CuAb; CuA and CuP combination near wing base, CuP stem short; RA stem and MA stem very short, but RP and MP rather long; RP with 6 branches, about three times branched; three-branched MA, occupying the middle of wing apex; three-branched MP, occupying the lower part of wing apex; CuA stem long, distinctly curved, forked later than R, CuAa with 4 branches, CuAb also with 4 branches, all the veins long and not forked, oblique up to wing margin; anal area large, spindle-like, shorter than Sc, with 10 branches, sometimes forked. Tegmen with irregular wave. The width from A1 to A10 narrower, especially between A4 to A10. The size of veins areas: R>CuA>M; the base of R, M, Cu and all the anal veins obviously sclerotized.

Distribution. The genus is known only from China and is currently represented by one species.

Etymology. From ancient name of China—Cathay, and Blatta, general suffix for blattids.

Remarks. Mylacridae includes 4 subfamilies: Idiomylacrinae Handlirsch, 1906, Mylacrinae Sellards, 1904, Pteridomylacrinae Handlirsch, 1906 and Heminglacrinae Pruvost, 1919 ( Becker-Migdisova 1962). Judging from the wing venation, it seems as if it is unsuitable to arrange the new genus into above 4 subfamilies. So, here we can only put the new genus into Mylacridae . A new subfamily may be erected when more evidence and specimens are found. At level of the genus, Cathayiblatta is somewhat similar to Hemimylacris Handlirsch, 1906 , but it can be distinguished from Hemimylacris by the following characters: tegmen narrower and longer, costal margin flat; tegmen shape lance-like (not bean-like); subcostal area short obviously, not extended beyond midwing; ScA at least with 3 branches; ScP with few branches; cubital area large, 1/2 as large as tegmen; more and parallel upwards veins, and subdivided into anterior and posterior branches, CuP strongly curved; anal area shorter and wider, lance-like, 1/3 as long as tegmen, with 9 veins. In Hemimylacris , the tegmen is wider and short, and the wing is bean-like; the subcostal area is extended beyond midwing; ScA is invisible, ScP has more branches; the cubital area is small, not subdivided into the anterior and posterior branches; the anal area is narrower and longer, the anal area has 4 veins ( Becker-Migdisova 1962).

Cathayiiblatta is also somewhat similar to Metaxyblatta Handlirsch, 1906 , but it can be distinguished from the latter by the cubital area with the parallel veins oblique to the wing margin, and subdivided into the anterior and posterior branches. In Metaxyblatta , the cubital veins are not subdivided into the anterior and posterior branches, and all the veins are pectinated and not oblique to the wing margin ( Becker-Migdisova 1962).