Protoaristenymphes daohugouensis, Yang, Qiang, Makarkin, Vladimir N. & Ren, Dong, 2012

Yang, Qiang, Makarkin, Vladimir N. & Ren, Dong, 2012, New fossil Mesochrysopidae (Neuroptera) from the Mesozoic of China, Zootaxa 3597, pp. 1-14 : 4-6

Protoaristenymphes daohugouensis sp. nov.

( Figs 1–3 )

Diagnosis. May be distinguished from P. bascharagensis by larger size [forewing 25 mm long in P. daohugouensis , about 16.5 mm in P. bascharagensis ]; M forked distal to origin of Rs [at same level in P. bascharagensis ]; distal crossvein between CuP and AA3+4 located proximal to fork of AA3+4 [distal in P. bascharagensis ].

Description. Body incompletely preserved. Head, prothorax not preserved. Mesonotum and metanotum relatively well preserved, morphology as usual for Neuroptera with large meso- and metascutum ( Fig. 2 , mssc, mtsc). Mid-, hindleg femora and tibiae covered with dense short hairs alternating with scarce stouter black hairs; tibial spurs not detected; basitarsus of hindleg covered with dense short hairs. Other leg segments not preserved. Metapostnotum not preserved. Abdomen almost complete, but poorly preserved; first tergite not preserved except distinct transverse stout transverse suture divided medially ( Fig. 2 , ts).

Forewing 19.5 mm long as preserved (estimated complete length 24–25 mm), 7.5 mm wide. Costal space narrow for entire preserved length. Subcostal veinlets simple, widely spaced in proximal half, becoming more closely spaced towards pterostigma. Subcostal space rather narrow, slightly dilated towards apex; subcostal crossveins not detected. RA space tapering basally, with widely spaced crossveins. RP originated very far from wing base, slightly zigzagged; its branches regularly pectinately branched. Crossveins in radial space arranged in two gradate series. M basally fused with R for considerable distance, forked distal to origin of RP. MA and MP running nearly parallel to each other. MA clearly arched. MP pectinate, with three simple branches. Intramedian cell im elongate, about 5 times as long as wide. Basal crossvein m-cu long, nearly at right angle to M. Cu dividing into CuA, CuP at level of origin of M. CuA, CuP both with two simple pectinate branches. Two crossveins between CuA, CuP. Distal crossveins between MP, CuA (2m-cu) and distal crossveins between CuA, CuP aligned. Two crossveins between CuP and AA3+4. Distal crossvein between CuP and AA3+4 and crossvein between AA3+4 and AP1+2 long, aligned. AA3+4 slightly arched, with deep wide terminal fork. AP1+2 probably forked (poorly preserved); AP3+4 short, simple, strongly arched.

Hind wing about 21 mm long as preserved (estimated complete length 23–23.5 mm), 6 mm wide. Costal space relatively narrow. Subcostal veinlets simple, widely spaced. ScP and RA fused distally. Subcostal space rather narrow, slightly dilated towards apex; subcostal crossveins not detected. RA space tapering basally. RP originated far from wing base (but more proximal than in forewings), slightly zigzagged, with eight preserved branches (estimated number 9–10); at least RP 2 and RP 3 deeply forked distal to outer gradate series. Crossveins in radial space arranged in two gradate series. M forked far distal to origin of RP. Two crossveins between MA and MP, belonging to inner and outer gradate series respectively. MA probably simple, arched. MP deeply forked, each branch again deeply forked; between these branches one crossvein belonging to outer gradate series. One crossvein preserved between MP and CuA belonging to outer gradate series. CuA and AA3+4 only partially preserved.

Material. Holotype CNU-NEU-NN2011103PC (part, counterpart), disposited in CNUB. An incomplete, poorly preserved specimen.

Type locality and horizon. Daohugou, Inner Mongolia, NE China; Middle Jurassic, Jiulongshan Formation.

Etymology. From Daohugou, the type locality of the new species.

Remarks. We assigned the new species to the genus Protoaristenymphes as its characters fully agree with the generic diagnosis. It differs from Protoaristenymphes bascharagensis as indicated in the species diagnosis.

A structure showed in Figure 2 (labeled ts) is preliminarily interpreted here as the transverse suture of the first abdominal tergite (‘Transversalnaht’ of Achtelig 1975). We make this determination because of its position, which is characteristic of such transverse sutures of other species (see below).

Figures

FIGURE 1. Protoaristenymphes daohugouensis sp. nov. Holotype CNU-NEU-NN 2011103 PC. A, part. B, counterpart. Scale bar is 10 mm.

FIGURE 2. Protoaristenymphes daohugouensis sp. nov. Holotype CNU-NEU-NN 2011103 PC, pterothorax and basal portion of abdomen, dorsal view (wetted with ethanol). mssc, mesoscutum; mtsc, metascutum; mt, tibia of midleg; ts, transverse suture of 1 st abdominal tergite. Scale bar is 1 mm.

FIGURE 3. Protoaristenymphes daohugouensis sp. nov. Holotype CNU-NEU-NN 2011103 PC (counterpart), right wings wetted with ethanol. Scale bar is 10 mm.