Mirabythus lechrius Cai, Shih et Ren

Cai, Yaping, Zhao, Yunyun, Shih, Chungkun & Ren, Dong, 2012, A new genus of Scolebythidae (Hymenoptera: Chrysidoidea) from the Early Cretaceous of China, Zootaxa 3504, pp. 56-66 : 59-61

Mirabythus lechrius Cai, Shih et Ren , sp. nov.

( Figs 1 , 3 A)

Diagnosis. Head with anterior width nearly equal to posterior width. Propleura forming a strong, anterior neck, exposed dorsally, converging anteriorly in dorsal view. Posterior border of mesoscutellum not arching posteriorly. Metanotum with a narrow transverse band, slightly prolonged posteriorly. Cell 1M with its sides parallel, crossvein m-cu tubular, vein M exceedingly beyond crossvein m-cu.

Description. Medium-sized wasps, total body length 9.2 mm; fore wing length 3.1 mm.

Head. Head rounded, width 1.8 mm and length 1.9 mm. Frontal prominence absent. Clypeus short, conspicuously transverse. Mandible with notches on the anterior margin ( Fig. 1 E). Minimum distance between eyes 1.4 times of the height of an eye, inner margins of compound eyes nearly parallel, closest near the middle, slightly divergent below and above. Ocelli apparently surpassing upper tangent of compound eyes. Occipital carina present.

Mesosoma . Pronotal collar absent, dorsal surface of pronotum shortened, about a half of mesoscutum length. Notauli present, separate anteriorly but contiguous posteriorly. Prosternum large, exposed, diamond-shaped, width longer than length. Parapsidal lines absent. Mesoscutal- mesoscutellar sulcus transverse. The length of mesoscutum slightly shorter than the length of mesoscutellum, posterior border of mesoscutellum weakly and gently convex. Mesosternum simple, not produced backward over mid coxa. Mesosternal region large, separated by a longitudinal groove in median. Metanotum very short, with a narrow transverse band, slightly prolonged posteriorly. Propodeum with median longitudinal groove extending from anterior margin to near posterior rim.

Metasoma. Abdomen large and swollen, length 5.2 mm, slight sidewall compression, first tergite anterior face not concave to fit into the propodeum. Metasomal tergites dorsally comparatively flat in cross-section but sternites somewhat convex in cross-section. No constriction between first and second abdominal segments, First sternite not prolonged backward.

Leg. Fore coxae large and flattened, middle coxae and hind coxae somewhat round, hind coxae separated.

Holotype. Female, No. CNU-HYM-LB2012105p/c, a well-preserved almost complete body with fore wing, legs and partial head.

Etymology. From the Greek “lechr-” referring to the slight sidewall compression.

Locality and horizon. Huangbanjigou Village, Beipiao City, Liaoning Province, China; the Early Cretaceous.

Figures

FIGURE 1. Mirabythus lechrius sp. nov., holotype, CNU-HYM-LB 2012105 p / c. A, C. ventral view; B. dorsal view, under alcohol; D. dorsal view; E. notches on the anterior margin of mandible, under alcohol.

FIGURE 3. Fore wing. A. Mirabythus lechrius sp. nov., CNU-HYM-LB 2012105 p. B. M. liae sp. nov., CNU-HYM- LB 2012106 c.