Kronomyrmecolax, Wang & Kathirithamby & Engel, 2015

Wang, Bo, Kathirithamby, Jeyaraney & Engel, Michael S., 2015, The first twisted-wing parasitoid in Eocene amber from north-eastern China (Strepsiptera: Myrmecolacidae), Journal of Natural History (J. Nat. Hist.) 50, pp. 1305-1313 : 1308-1309

Kronomyrmecolax gen. nov.

Type species

Kronomyrmecolax fushunicus sp. nov.

Diagnosis

♂: Body size small (ca. 1.1 mm); head broad, medially narrowed, with compound eyes bulging ( Figure 1B ); antenna with seven antennomeres (i.e. five flagellomeres), with a single flabellum arising from base of first flagellomere (antennomere III) ( Figure 2C ), flabellum with margins parallel sided, apex of flabellum not reaching to base of flagellomere V; flagellomere V at most 1.8 times length of flagellomere IV ( Figure 2D ); bases of antennae situated medially, anterior to and between compound eyes, antennal insertions separated by less than scape length; ocelli absent; mandibles long, thin, straight, length about 8.2 times width; maxillary palpus simple, long ( Figure 2A ), about as long as antennal flabellum . Legs slender except coxae massive and thick; trochanter and femur fused (with scarcely evident ring basally on profemur, presumably demarcating the fused protrochanter); tarsi tetramerous (four tarsomeres), basitarsus long, cylindrical, remaining tarsomeres each slightly longer than wide, flattened, with patches of specialised setae apically on ventral surfaces ( Figure 2B ), such setae with tapered apices; pretarsal claws absent. Pseudohaltere (fore wing) large, ca. 0.23 times hind wing length, apical width ca. 0.3 times pseudohaltere length; hind wings large, broader than long, with pterostigma-like darkening at apex of and between C+Sc and R1 ; veins present ( Figure 2E ): C+Sc, R1–5 ( R2 , R3 , R5 detached); MA, and CuA1 .

♀: Unknown.

Etymology

The new genus-group name is a combination of Kronos (youngest of the Titans, father of the Olympian gods, and generally a personification of ancient time) and Myrmecolax , type genus of the family. The gender of the name is masculine.

Figures

Figure 1. Photomicrographs of holotype male (NIGP 156972) of Kronomyrmecolax fushunicus gen. et sp. nov., in Early Eocene (Ypresian) Fushun amber. (A) Ventral view (scale bar = 0.5 mm). (B) Frontal oblique view (scale bar = 0.125 mm). (C) Dorsal view (scale bar = 0.5 mm).

Figure 2. Morphological details drawn from the holotype male (NIGP 156972) of Kronomyrmecolax fushunicus gen. et sp. nov., in Early Eocene Fushun amber. (A) Maxillary palpus (scale bar = 0.125 mm). (B) Lateral view of apical portion of mesobasitarsus and remaining mesotarsomeres (scale bar = 0.125 mm). (C) Antenna in outer view (drawn as preserved; scale bar = 0.125 mm). (D) Antenna in inner, oblique view, with flabellum extending obliquely below and away from the flagellum (drawn as preserved; scale bar = 0.125 mm). (E) Hind wing (scale bar = 0.25 mm).