Protoitidae Ulmer & Krogmann, 2023

UImer, Jonah M., Jansta, Petr, Azar, Dany & Krogmann, Lars, 2023, At the dawn of megadiversity - Protoitidae, a new family of Chalcidoidea (Hymenoptera) from Lower Cretaceous Lebanese amber, Journal of Hymenoptera Research 96, pp. 879-924 : 879

Family Protoitidae Ulmer & Krogmann fam. nov.

Type genus.

Protoita , gen. nov.

Diagnosis.

Antenna 14-segmented (Fig. 3A, B ); clava 1-3 segmented, terminal two flagellomeres differentiated by a line of weakness (partially fused) when clava multi-segmented (Fig. 3A, B ); MPS present on all flagellomeres. Clypeus inflected dorsally and laterally with an arched groove at margin (Figs 6G , 7C , 8E , 10C ). Malar sulcus present. Lower tentorial bridge present, about as broad as distance between lower margin of occipital foramen and dorsal margin of hypostomal foramen. Postgenal bridge absent (Fig. 5A ). Pronotum dorsally narrow, almost entirely concealed by mesonotum medially in dorsal view (Figs 5D , 6C , 7A , 8B , 10D , 11D ); lateral panel externally reaching base of tegula. Mesonotum about 4 × as long as mesoscutellum (Figs 4D , 5D , 6C , 7A , 8B , 11D , 13A , 14A ). Prepectus laterally evident as elongate, vertical sclerite partly covered by posterior-most margin of lateral panel of pronotum (Fig. 16A, B ). Mesopleuron oriented dorsoventrally, abutting ventrally on a lower plane than coxae (Fig. 8B ); mesodiscrimen deeply invaginated. Fore wing with basal vein completely sclerotized (Fig. 2A ). M+Cu pigmented at least distally and usually sclerotized. Marginal vein strongly sclerotized and 2-3 × as wide as submarginal vein. Parastigma usually as wide as or nearly as wide as marginal vein (Fig. 2A ). Costal cell reaching far beyond junction of submarginal vein and basal vein. Retinaculum pigmented. Hind wing with three hamuli of equal length and orientation, the distal hamulus not extending beyond midpoint of hind wing. Meso- and metacoxae abutting, separated widely from procoxa by mesopleuron (Figs 6A, C , 8B , 11D , 13A ). Protibial spur curved and apically cleft; probasitarus with basitarsal comb nearly always present (Figs 4C , 7D , 10E , 11F , 14D :cal). Metatibia with two apical spurs with shorter spur about ⅓ length of longer spur (Figs 8A , 9A , 11C ). All tarsi 5-segmented; basitarsi about as long as or slightly shorter than tarsomeres 2-4 (Figs 4A , 5A , 6A , 8A , 10E , 11F , 15C ). Metasoma with short petiole. Hypopygium reaching end of metasoma.

Figures

Figure 2. Fore wing morphology and terminology A Cretaxenomerus vitreus, sp. nov. B Rotoita sp. (Baeomorphidae). av = anal vein; bc = basal cell; bv = basal vein; cc = costal cell; Cu 1 = cubital vein; hb = hyaline break; M + Cu = medio-cubital crossvein; mv = marginal vein; pas = parastigma; pmv = postmarginal vein; smv = submarginal vein; stv = stigmal vein; uncs = uncus.

Figure 3. Antennal morphology A Protoita noyesi, sp. nov. B Cretaxenomerus curvus, sp. nov. C Rotoita basalis (Baeomorphidae). cln = claval segment n; fun = funicular segment n; mps = multiporous plate sensilla; pe = pedicel; sc = scape.

Figure 4. Protoita noyesi, holotype A lateral habitus B apical part of antenna C fore leg basitarsus D mesosoma, lateral E head, posterior F fore wing G ovipositor complex and terminal metasomal segments. Scale bars: 500 µm (A); 200 µm (F); 100 µm (D); 50 µm (G). 3 v = 3 rd valvulae; axl = axillula; btc = basitarsal comb; cal = calcar; cer = cerci; msc = mesoscutum; msct = mesoscutellum; no 1 = pronotum; ov = ovipositor; pl 2 = mesopleuron; pre = prepectus; prp = propodeum.

Figure 5. Protoita bidentata, holotype A dorsolateral habitus B male genitalia, ventral C terminal funicular segments and clava D mesosoma, dorsolateral E head, posteroventral. Scale bars: 500 µm (A); 100 µm (C-E). aed = aedeagus; dig = digitus; frn = frenum; hyc = hypostomal carina; lbp = labial palp; md = mandible; msp = mesothoracic spiracle; Mtn = metasomal tergum; mxp = maxillary palp; no 3 = metanotum; par = paramere; psp = propodeal spiracle; tsa = transcutal articulation; vol = volsella.

Figure 6. Protoita istvani, holotype A lateral habitus B antenna, lateral C mesosoma, lateral D head, posterior E fore wing F ovipositor complex and terminal metasomal segments G head, lateral. Scale bars: 500 µm (A); 250 µm (E); 150 µm (C); 100 µm (D, F, G). 2 v = 2 nd valvifer; cxn = coxa; occ = occipital carina; pl 3 = metapleuron; tor = toruli.

Figure 7. Protoita petersi, holotype A dorsal habitus B apical flagellomeres, lateral C head, ventral D fore leg E fore wing venation F ovipositor complex. Scale bars: 500 µm (A); 150 µm (E); 100 µm (B-D). ax = axilla; btn = basitarsal notch; cly = clypeus.

Figure 8. Cretaxenomerus curvus, holotype (874 D) A lateral habitus B mesosoma, lateral C antenna, lateral D ovipositor complex and terminal abdominal segments E head, lateroventral F fore wing. Scale bars: 500 µm (A); 150 µm (F); 100 µm (B-E). iap = interantennal process; lcl = lateral clypeal line; Mt 8 + 9 = syntergum.

Figure 9. Cretaxenomerus curvus, male paratype (1614 F) A dorsal habitus B antenna, lateral C male genitalia, ventral D fore wing venation. Scale bars: 250 µm (A); 100 µm (B, D); 50 µm (C). phb = phallobase.

Figure 10. Cretaxenomerus brevis, holotype A lateral habitus B fore and hind wing C head, ventrolateral, and antenna D mesonotum, dorsolateral E fore leg F ovipositor complex and terminal abdominal segments. Scale bars: 500 µm (A); 200 µm (B, C); 150 µm (D-F). aro = arolium; hw = hind wing.

Figure 11. Cretaxenomerus vitreus, holotype A lateral habitus B apical flagellomeres, lateral C metasoma, lateral D mesosoma, lateral E prepectus F fore leg. Scale bars: 500 µm (A); 100 µm (C-F).

Figure 13. Cretaxenomerus tenuipenna, holotype A lateral habitus B ovipositor and terminal metasomal segments C antenna, lateral D fore and hind wing (showing beneath fore wing). Scale bars: 500 µm (A); 250 µm (D); 100 µm (B, C). pl 1 = propleuron; ptl = petiole.

Figure 14. Cretaxenomerus deangelis, holotype A dorsal habitus B fore wing venation and cells C antenna, lateral D fore leg basitarsus and tibia. Scale bars: 250 µm (A); 200 µm (B); 100 µm (C); 50 µm (D).

Figure 15. Cretaxenomerus jankotejai, holotype A dorsal habitus, with inset showing close up of terminal flagellomeres B ovipositor complex with elongate syntergum C mesotibia and tarsus showing tarsal length. Scale bars: 500 µm (A); 100 µm (B, C). ccs = cercal sensilla.

Figure 16. Prepectus of Protoitidae A Cretaxenomerus curvus, mesosoma, lateral B Protoita noyesi, mesosoma, ventrolateral. Scale bars: 100 µm (A, B).