Fortiblatta Liang, Vršanský et Ren, 2009

Ren, Jun-Hui Liang Peter Vršansk Ÿ Dong & Shih, Chungkun, 2009, A new Jurassic carnivorous cockroach (Insecta, Blattaria, Raphidiomimidae) from the Inner Mongolia in China, Zootaxa 1974, pp. 17-30 : 18-19

Genus Fortiblatta Liang, Vršanský et Ren , gen. nov.

Type species. Fortiblatta cuspicolor Liang, Vršanský et Ren sp. nov. described below.

Composition. Monotypic.

Derivation of name: Fortiblatta is a combination of fortis (Latin for strong), alluding to the heavily sclerotised cuticle and generally large body size, and the genus name Blatta .

Differential diagnosis. The new genus can be categorized within Raphidiomimidae based on the prognathous head unconcealed by pronotum, free forelegs, and narrow forewing costal field.

The new genus differs from Raphidiomima and Cameloblatta ( Vishniakova 1973) in having wide and colored base of head ( Figs. 2 a, 5b); distinctive eyes located basally; less numerous leg spines; the proportion of femur and tibia of foreleg under 1; somewhat sclerotized and intensively colored wings and pronotum; CuP on hind wing without branches ( R. chimaera and C. variegata have terminally branched CuP – Vishniakova 1971, figs. 4,10, pp.69, 75); the last three segments of cerci longest and thinnest among all segments; and internalized outer ovipositor valves.

The new genus can be distinguished from Liadoblattina Handlirsch, 1906 (see Vršanský and Ansorge 2007) by larger body; forewing Sc richly branched ( Fig.3 a); hind wing M poorly branched; and reticulations present in CuA-CuP area.

Description. Large Species (forewing length/width: 21.1–26.0mm/6.5–8.0mm; hind wing length/width: 21.0–24.0mm/7.0– 8.3mm; head length/width: 3–4.6mm / 2–2.5mm; pronotum length/width: 5–6.2mm / 4.5mm – 5.8mm), with body strongly sclerotised. Head base wide and coloured, eyes located basally, partially covered by pronotum; ocelli invisible.

Pronotum vaulted, slightly elongate with dark coloration at center and at margins.

Veins dark, intercalaries and cross-veins distinct. Forewing with expanded venation. Area between anterior wing margin and Sc very long and narrow, Sc branched; R with undifferentiated Rs, does not reach apex; CuP slightly curved. Anal veins with tertiary branches, the base of anal region colored. Diagonal fold present.

Hind wing with simple Sc; R differentiated into R1 and well-developed Rs; M reduced to few, usually 2 branches. CuA basal most branches strong, CuP simple, straight; anal lobe with fan-like pleating, A1 simple. Reticulations present in CuA-CuP space, joined with intercalaries.

Body wide. Abdominal segments long, with parallel margins. Cerci multi-segmented, the last three segments longest. Ovipositor outer valves internalized.

Remarks. The new genus retains plesiomorphies, such as branched forewing Sc; R not reaching apex of margin, branched anal veins, and the proportion of femur and tibia of foreleg under 1. Head with round big eyes located basally, partially covered by pronotum, is also plesiomorphic in respect to Raphidiomima and Cameloblatta . The anal veins of Raphidiomimidae with tertiary branches and branching of the uppermost vein are symplesiomorphic with the Caloblattinidae Vršanský et Ansorge in Vršanský 2000, but also with the Juramantidae Vršanský, 2002 and Liberiblattinidae Vršanský, 2002 (Vršanský, 2002) .

Figures

FIGURE 2. Fortiblatta cuspicolor Liang, Vršanský et Ren sp. nov. Daohugou, Inner Mongolia, China. Middle Jurassic (the Late Aalenian or Early Bajocian): Line drawings. 2 a. Head (CNU-B-NN- 2006 - 205); 2 b. P. mx, P. lb and Md. (CNU- B-NN- 2006 - 075); 2 c. Foreleg (CNU-B-NN- 2006 - 075); 2 d. Midleg and Hindleg (CNU-B-NN- 2006 - 258); 2 e. Ovipositor (CNU-B-NN- 2006 - 217).

FIGURE 3. Fortiblatta cuspicolor Liang, Vršanský et Ren sp. nov. Daohugou, Inner Mongolia, China. Middle Jurassic (the Late Aalenian or Early Bajocian): 3 a. Sc (CNU-B-NN- 2006 - 261); 3 b. Diagonal kink (CNU-B-NN- 2006 - 007); 3 c-d. Unusual morphology, R and M of LFW, RFW (CNU-B-NN- 2006 - 006).