Veriplecia Blagoderov, 1999

BLAGODEROV, VLADIMIR, GRIMALDI, DAVID A. & FRASER, NICHOLAS C., 2007, How Time Flies for Flies: Diverse Diptera from the Triassic of Virginia and Early Radiation of the Order, American Museum Novitates 3572, pp. 1-40 : 14-16

Genus Veriplecia Blagoderov, 1999

Veriplecia Blagoderov, 1999: 12 . Type species: V. clara Blagoderov, 1999 , monotypic.

Veriplecia rugosa Blagoderov and Grimaldi , new species figures 5e, 10d

DIAGNOSIS: Differs from Veriplecia clara from the Late Triassic of Australia by the more basal position of the base of R 2+3, which is slightly basal to the level of crossvein tb (basal section of M 3+4 stem proximal to crossvein m-cu).

DESCRIPTION: Male. Measurements: body 5 3.1 mm, wing 5 2.2 mm. Head round, eyes large, genae setulose. Antennae moniliform, with scape slightly larger than individual flagellomeres. Scutum with fine setulae; no large, bristlelike setae. Costa setulose. Sc short, 0.41X the length of wing, ends at C slightly proximal to level of base of R 2+3. Sc 2 not apparent or absent. Ratios of length of stem of RS: stem of R 4+5: R 5 are 1:1:3. Crossvein r-m located between bases of R 2+3 and R 4; length of section of RS between r-m and base of R 4 is 0.5X the length of section between bases of R 2+3 and r-m. Distinct pterostigma at apex of R 1. Ratios of lengths of M stem, and sections of M 1+2 proximal and distal of r-m when straightened out are 5:1:1. Basal stem of M evanescent toward wing base. Length of M 1 and M 2 fork 5.7X the length of stem of M 1+2 distal to r-m. Length of M stem proximal to r-m is 2.6X the tb length. Crossvein m-cu is 1.7X the length of tb. CuA very slightly curved back. 10 visible segments of abdomen; segment 3 largest, 8 smallest, 10 apparently large, covering ventrally situated genitalia. Abdomen and genitalia setose. Pair of short, protruding appendages present (probably gonostyli).

1+2

MATERIAL: Holotype YPM 35989.

ETYMOLOGY: The specific epithet is from the Latin rugosus, meaning ‘‘wrinkled’’, in reference to the deformed wing of the unique specimen.

Virginiptera Blagoderov and Grimaldi , new genus

DIAGNOSIS: Costa ends slightly beyond tip of R 5. Sc ends at C distal to the base of RS and at the level of base of fork R 2+3 –R 4+5. R and CuA considerably thicker than M. Base of R 2+3 proximal to crossvein r-m. R 4 very short, 0.5X the length of RS. Stem of M weak, incomplete. Crossvein tb very short. CuA evenly curved. Tibial spurs (1:1:2) present, length ca. 1.3X width of tibia. Female cerci 2- segmented. Male genitalia held ventrally.

The new genus is close to Complecia clara Blagoderov, 1999 , from the Late Triassic of Australia, which differs from the new genus in having Sc shorter and ending free, base of R 2+3 very close to the base of r-m, and a more regular spacing of veins in the radial sector (ratios of the distances along C between tips of R 1, R 2+3, and R 5 are 1.3:1.1:1.0) and in the medial sector (ratios of the distances along wing margin between apices of R 5, M 1, M 2, M 3+4, and CuA are 1:1.3:1.6:1.9).

TYPE SPECIES: Virginiptera certa , new species.

ETYMOLOGY: The genus name derives from Virginia, the U.S. state of origin of the fossil. The genus name is feminine.

COMMENTS: The new genus has a venation similar to that of Paraxymyiidae (Eomy-

cetophilinae) and Eoditomyiidae : three branches in RS, with R 4 extremely short, the base of R 2+3 proximal to r-m, three branches of M, and the discal cell reduced. Virginiptera differs from Eoditomyia Ansorge (Early

Jurassic, Germany) by having a complete Sc,

and in Eoditomyia crossveins r-m, tb and m-cu are nearly in line, and the base of M is completely reduced. It differs from Crosaphis

(Anisopodoidea) by the presence of a short R 4

vein.

The new genus is closely related to or within

Sciaroidea based on the following features:

• Length of coxae approximately equal to thoracic height. Anisopodoidea in general have much shorter coxae (length ca. 0.3X the depth of thorax) than in Sciaroidea , the latter of which have a coxal length that may even exceed the thoracic height.

• Tibial spurs as long as the tibial diameter, and protruding at approximately 45 °. Sciaroidea have short to extremely long tibial spurs, but the position is always protruding away from the tibia. In contrast, Anisopodoidea (including fossil Anisopodidae and Protorhyphidae ) have short tibial spurs in line with the tibia.

• CuA is evenly curved. In most Anisopodoidea the section of CuA distal to m-cu is apomorphically straight or sinuous.

• Abdominal tergite I lacks laterodorsal tubercles or protrusions. Sciaroidea never possess these structures.

• Anepisternum is bare. In those fossil Sciariodea for which preservation allows observation, as well as in many basal Recent sciaroids, the pleural sclerites are bare. Anisopodoidea very often have the setose pleural sclerites.

• Segment 8 is short in females. Size of the eighth segment varies in Sciaroidea and Anisopodoidea , but it is generally reduced in the former and well developed in the latter group.

• Tibiae with rows of thick dorsal setae. Anisopodoidea usually lack thick setae on the tibiae.

• MA or arculus not seen at the wing base. Anisopodoidea have a strong veinlike arculus; in Sciaroidea MA is usually represented only by a kink in the wing membrane at the base of R.

Virginiptera certa Blagoderov and Grimaldi , new species figures 6b, 11c

DIAGNOSIS: Sc ends at C, very slightly proximal to base of R 2+3 and distal to crossvein tb. Crossvein r-m as long as section of RS between bases of R 2+3 and r-m. Stem of M slightly kinked at r-m and tb. Length of section of M 1+2 proximal to r-m 1.6X that of r-m. Section of M 1+2 stem distal to r-m with length 1.8X that of r-m.

DESCRIPTION: Measurements: body length 5 2.8–3.1 mm (holotype 3.1 mm), wing length 5 1.9–2 mm (holotype 1.9 mm), antennal length 5 0.6 mm. Antennae short, approximately 0.7X thorax length; flagellum 14- segmented (13-segmented in VMNH 2998); flagellomeres cylindrical, length of each ca. 0.5X the width. Scutum with short irregular setulae, no bristlelike setae, several longer setae caudally. Scutellum small, not protruding. Katepisternum wider than deep. Abdomen setulose, attachment slightly narrowed; widest at segments 3–4. Length of segment 8 0.5X that of segment 7. Cerci 2- segmented. Wing: Costa ends slightly beyond tip of R 5, K the length between tips of R 5 and M 1 on holotype’s left wing. Sc ends at C, slightly proximal to base of R 2+3 and distal to crossvein tb. Sc length 0.4X the wing length. R and CuA veins distinctly thicker and more sclerotized than medial veins. R 1 length 0.67X the wing length. R 2+3 nearly parallel to R 1, both veins very slightly curved toward anterior margin of wing. R 4 very short, straight, 0.5X the length of R 5. Ratios of distances between tips of R 1, R 2+3, and R 5 on C are 2:2.5:1. R 4+5 stem straight basally, in apical quarter curved slightly backward, ending at wing tip. Crossvein r-m as long as section of RS between bases of R 2+3 and r-m. Stem of M slightly kinked at r-m and tb; M 1+2 stem proximal to r-m is very weak. Section of M 1+2 stem distal of r-m 1.8X that of section proximal to r-m. Length of section of M 1+2 proximal to r-m 1.6X that of r-m. Length of M 1 –M 2 fork 4.2X the length of section of M 1+2 distal to r-m. Ratios of distances at wing margin between apices of R 5, M 1, M 2, M 3+4, and CuA are 1:1.5:2.5:2.5. Crossvein tb very short, but distinct. CuA evenly curved. Legs setulose, hind tibiae with distinct row of dorsal setae. Tibial spurs 1.5X the tibial diameter, protruding 45 ° from axis of tibia.

MATERIAL: Holotype VMNH 731, ♀; paratype VMNH 2998, ³.

ETYMOLOGY: The species epithet is from the Latin certus, meaning ‘‘certain’’.

Virginiptera similis Blagoderov and Grimaldi , new species figures 6d, 11b

DIAGNOSIS: Size slightly less than half that of V. certa . Sc ends at C, at the level of crossvein tb and significantly proximal to level of r-m. Crossvein r-m 2X longer than section of RS between bases of R 2+3 and r-m. Length of section of M 1+2 proximal to r-m is 1.3X that of r-m. Length of section of M 1+2 distal to r-m is 2X that of M 1+2 section proximal to r-m.

DESCRIPTION: Measurements: body 5 1.3 mm, wing 5 1.3 mm, antenna 5 0.7 mm. Flagellum 14-segmented, flagellomeres cylindrical. Scutum arched. Abdomen with male terminalia large and folded under apex of abdomen. Wing: Costa ends slightly beyond tip of R 5. Sc ends at C, at level of crossvein tb. Length of Sc 0.42X the wing length. Sc 2 preserved. Length of R 1 0.6X the wing length. R 2+3 nearly straight, curved at apex toward anterior margin of wing. Ratios of distances between tips of R 1, R 2+3, and R 5 on C are 1.5:2.5:1. R 5 short, straight; R 4 slightly curved, 0.5X length of R 5. Crossvein r-m 2X longer than section of RS between bases of R 2+3 and r-m. Stem of M nearly straight, base evanescent. Length of M 1+2 section proximal to r-m 1.3X that of r-m. Length of section of M 1+2 distal to r-m is 2X that of section of M 1+2 proximal to r-m. Length of M 1 and M 2 fork is 4X the length of M 1+2 section distal to r-m. Crossvein tb very short, but distinct. Ratios of distances between apices of R 5, M 1, M 2, M 3+4, and CuA at wing margin are 1:1.5:2:2. CuA evenly curved.

MATERIAL: Holotype VMNH 825, ³; paratype VMNH 1042, ³.

ETYMOLOGY: The species epithet is from Latin similis , meaning ‘‘similar to’’ or ‘‘resembling’’.