Cimbrophlebia

Archibald, Bruce, 2009, New Cimbrophlebiidae (Insecta: Mecoptera) from the Early Eocene at McAbee, British Columbia, Canada and Republic, Washington, USA, Zootaxa 2249, pp. 51-62 : 59-60

Cimbrophlebia sp. A.

( Fig. 7 A–C)

Description. Wing as in Fig. 7 A–C, and the following. Length of portion preserved ~ 28 mm (estimated complete> 40 mm, see remarks, below), width ~7.5 mm (preserved portion, not maximum). Colouration as in Fig. 7 A, similar (preserved portion) to C. flabelliformis , C. leahyi ; possibly, but less likely C. westae . Sc, R, Rs, M, small basal portions preserved. Cu1, Cu2, 1A: preserved portions generalized as for genus. 2A: six pectinate branches. Crossveins: none detected as preserved.

Material. UCCIPR L-18 F-998 (part), F-1137 (counterpart). Fore- or hind wing, missing apical third and about two thirds of the anterior portion, and a small portion of basal hind margin; in the collection of TRU. Labelled: hypotype, Cimbrophlebia sp. A, Archibald, 2009. Collected by unknown person at McAbee in 2002, donated to TRU by David Langevin, 2002.

Locality and age. McAbee, British Columbia, Canada; Early Eocene.

Remarks. The preserved portions of the wing of C. sp. A indicate that its shape is consistent with that of C. flabelliformis ( Fig. 7 C). If so, its complete length would be likely over 40 mm. The width of the preserved portion (not maximum) is ~7.5 mm. By its large size, this is confidently separated from C. flabelliformis [length ~ 28 mm; width 7 mm] and C. westae [length ~ 25 mm, width ~ 6 mm]. The 2A with six pectinate branches preserved separates it from C. bittaciformis [seven branches: three basal branches pectinate, four distal branches dichotomous], from C. leahyi [six branches: two basal branches pectinate, minimum of four dichotomous distal branches], and from C. flabelliformis [four pectinate branches], although not from C. brooksi and C. westae , where 2A is little known by preservation. Cimbrophlebia sp. A apparently has a similar shape as known to C. flabelliformis , C. leahyi and C. westae , which are relatively wide, differing from the narrower wings of C. brooksi and C. bittaciformis (see above). Colouration, when known from a complete wing will surely be informative (see C. flabelliformis remarks above). Better-preserved specimens are needed to clarify supposition that this represents a distinct, separate species.

Figures

FIGURE 7. Cimbrophlebia sp. A, UCCIPR L- 18 F- 998. A, photograph (part); B, drawing (part, no additional information on counterpart); C, reconstruction of the hypothesized complete size and shape of C. sp. A wing (top) based on that of C. flabelliformis (bottom). A, B to scale = 1 cm; C to scale = 1 cm.