Kareninoides lii

Yang, Qiang, Makarkin, Vladimir N. & Ren, Dong, 2012, New fossil Mesochrysopidae (Neuroptera) from the Mesozoic of China, Zootaxa 3597, pp. 1-14 : 7-10

Kareninoides lii gen. et sp. nov.

( Figs 4–6 )

‘Mesochrysopidae’: Makarkin et al. 2012: Fig. 4 D.

Diagnosis. In both wings, crossvein between RP and MA (before origin of RP 1), and basal crossvein between Cu and AA3+4 present [absent in Kareninoides inexpectus ]; in hind wing, M forked distinctly proximal to origin of RP [at same level in K. inexpectus ].

Description. Head rather elongate; vertex with indistinct longitudinal coronal (epicranial) suture; antennae poorly preserved, only visible as impression in matrix, filiform or moniliform, with scapus, pedicel slightly broader than segments of flagellum; antennal sockets situated rather closely to each other; mandibles apparently quite large (poorly preserved). Prothorax long, slightly longer than maximal length of head. Mesothorax only fragmentarily preserved. Metathorax nearly complete, but very poorly preserved. Femora, tibiae of forelegs and midleg partly preserved; details otherwise not visible. Metapostnotum not identified. Abdomen about 21.8 mm long; eight segments preserved. First abdominal tergite possesses distinct mediolongitudinal suture (‘Sagittalnaht’ of Achtelig 1975) distally bifid into parts of transverse suture (‘Transversalnaht’ of Achtelig 1975); portion of 1st tergite distal to transverse suture (i.e., ‘Posterotergit’ of Achtelig 1975) rather long. Second abdominal tergite long, slightly longer than its width; acrotergite of 2nd tergite not identified or absent.

Forewing elongate, rather narrow, with rounded apex, 44.5 mm long, about 10.5 mm wide. Costal space only slightly expanded in proximal part, equally narrow before fusion of ScP with RA. All subcostal veinlets simple, rather closely spaced. Pterostigma not preserved. Veinlets of ScP+RA poorly preserved, simple; two connected by crossvein. Subcostal space very narrow, crossveins not detected. RA space (between RA and RP) tapering basally, narrowed distally, with 15 (right wing) and 17 (left wing) crossveins proximal to fusion of ScP+RA. Stem of RP smooth, with 15 regularly pectinate, slightly zigzagged branches. Crossveins in radial space numerous, mostly not forming gradate series. Two short Banksian lines present, converging apically; Banksian folds not detected (wings preserved as flattened). Crossvein present between RP before origin of RP 1 and MA, which connects stem of RP and first intramedian cell (im). M basally fused with R for considerable distance; divided into MA and MP well proximal to origin of RP 1, somewhat distal to origin of RP. MA arched, slightly zigzagged, with deep terminal fork. MP strongly zigzagged, with terminal shallow fork and two simple, strongly zigzagged branches. im short, somewhat different in shape in right and left wings. Basal crossvein 1m-cu at origin of M long; crossvein 2m-cu connecting im and CuA very short. Branches of M and CuA, crossveins between them form reticulation. Cu appears fused with R basally, divided into CuA and CuP nearly opposite 1m-cu. CuA straight proximally, then bent towards MP at crossvein 2m-cu, strongly zigzagged distally; with terminal fork, one forked branch not zigzagged. Basal part of MP (within im), medial part of CuA, and its branch form straight line. CuP short, with deep terminal fork; two crossveins between CuA and CuP. AA3+4 with terminal fork. AP1+2 and AP3+4 probably simple. One basal crossvein between Cu and AA3+4. Two crossveins between CuA and AA3+4, of these distal one connecting CuA and anterior branch of AA3+4 fork.

Hind wing elongate, narrow, with sub-acute apex; length about 40.5 mm (left wing); width 9.7 mm (left wing), 9.2 mm (right wing). Costal space narrow, with simple subcostal veinlets. Pterostigma not distinct. Veinlets of ScP+RA distal to pterostigma not connected by crossveins. Subcostal space very narrow, crossveins not detected. RA space tapering basally, narrowed distally, with 14 (right wing), 16 (left wing) crossveins proximal to fusion of ScP+RA. Stem of RP slightly zigzagged, with 15 slightly zigzagged branches (right wing lacking apical-mot portion); RP 1 short in left wing, fused distally with MA; two distal branches of RP fused with each other in right wing. Crossveins in radial space numerous, mostly not forming gradate series. Two rather long Banksian lines present, converging apically; posterior Banksian line slightly arched; Banksian folds not detected (wings preserved as flattened). Crossveins present between RP and MA (before origin of RP 1). M divided into MA and MP well proximal to origin of RP. MA simple for most of length, arched, with two terminal forks. MP occupying greater space, strongly reticulated, deeply forked two times in right wing, appearing pectinate in left wing. CuA short, with two pectinate branches. CuP absent in right wing, present in left wing. AA3+4 well developed, pectinate, with three short pectinate branches. AP1+2 and AP3+4 not preserved.

Material. Holotype CNU-NEU-LY2011001PC (part, counterpart), deposited in CNUB. An almost complete, quite poorly preserved specimen.

Type locality and horizon. Dakangpu, Liulongtai Township, Yixian County, Liaoning Province, NE China; Early Cretaceous (Early Aptian), Yixian Formation (see Makarkin et al. 2012).

Etymology. The specific epithet is formed from the surname of Yanjun Li, in recognition of his donation of this specimen to the fossil collections of CNUB.

Remarks. The new species differs from the second species preliminarily assigned to the genus (see below) by some details in the venation as indicated in the species diagnosis.

The presence of the distally-bifid mediolongitudinal suture in the first abdominal tergite is a synapomorphy of Neuropterida ( Achtelig 1975; Kristensen 1991). This structure in Kareninoides lii gen. et sp. nov. is well developed, although not especially different in shape from that of the extant osmylid Osmylus fulvicephalus Scopoli ( Achtelig 1975: Fig. 9). In general, the structure of the first abdominal tergite is examined only in few taxa of Neuroptera , although it might be useful in phylogenetic reconstructions.

We explain the slight difference in shape especially noted between the left (wider) and right (longer) hind wings as a result of post-mortem plastic distortion, extension of the matrix along the plane of the length of the right hind wing.

Figures

FIGURE 4. Protoaristenymphes daohugouensis sp. nov. Wing venation of the holotype CNU-NEU-NN 2011103 PC. A, left forewing. B, right forewing. C, right hind wing. D, left hind wing. Scale bar is 10 mm (all to scale).

FIGURE 5. Kareninoides lii gen. et sp. nov. Holotype CNU-NEU-LY 2011001 PC. A, part. B, counterpart. Scale bar is 10 mm.

FIGURE 6. Kareninoides lii gen. et sp. nov. Drawing of the holotype CNU-NEU-LY 2011001 PC as preserved. T 1, T 2, first and second abdominal tergites. Scale bar is 10 mm.