Scleroxyela, Zheng, Yan, Hu, Haiyan, Chen, Dong, Chen, Jun, Zhang, Haichun & Rasnitsyn, Alexandr P., 2021

Zheng, Yan, Hu, Haiyan, Chen, Dong, Chen, Jun, Zhang, Haichun & Rasnitsyn, Alexandr P., 2021, New fossil records of Xyelidae (Hymenoptera) from the Middle Jurassic of Inner Mongolia, China, European Journal of Taxonomy 733 (733), pp. 146-159 : 153

Genus Scleroxyela gen. nov.

urn:lsid:zoobank.org:act:BE50D27E-AD6E-4772-81EF-BEB1FC3B6B08

Type species

Scleroxyela daohugouensis gen et sp. nov.

Etymology

The generic name is a combination of the Latin prefix sclero, referring to the forewing with pterostigma completely sclerotised, and Xyela , the type genus of Xyelidae . The gender is feminine.

Diagnosis

Forewing with pterostigma completely sclerotised; costal area sclerotised apically; Sc two-branched, with posterior branch short, vertical, joining R for short distance before origin of Rs, and anterior branch long, surpassing Rs base; 1-Rs distinct, obviously shorter than 1-M; crossvein 1r-rs subvertical, shorter than 2r-rs; 1m-cu short, ca 0.4 times as long as 3-Cu; cell 1mcu long and narrow, 3.0 times as long as wide. Antenna with segment 3 distinctly longer than both head width and length of flagellum. Ovipositor sheaths longer than Rs+M.

Composition

Type species only.

Remarks

Scleroxyela gen. nov. is attributed to Macroxyelinae , based on the sclerotised pterostigma, and on the apex of the costal space before the pterostigma and the wide ovipositor sheaths, and to Xyeleciini Benson, 1945 based on the short 1-Rs and 1m-cu, and on the relatively long ovipositor sheaths (longer than in non-xyeleciine Macroxyelinae , even though shorter than in Xyelinae ). It differs from the other xyeleciine genera by the absence of desclerotisation at the pterostigmal base, and also from Xyelites Rasnitsyn, 1966 and Uroxyela Rasnitsyn, 1966 in having a distinct 1-Rs and a long 3 rd antennal segment, from Microxyelecia Rasnitsyn, 1969 in having a long 3 rd antennal segment and a long fore Sc branch, and from Xyelecia Ross, 1932 in having a shorter flagellum, a longer ovipositor, and a long fore branch of Sc in the fore wing.