Annulites mexicana, George Poinar, Jr., 2016

George Poinar, Jr., 2016, Beetles with Orchid Pollinaria in Dominican and Mexican Amber, American Entomologist 62 (3), pp. 172-177 : 174

Annulites mexicana gen. n., sp. n. ( Figs. 4-6 , 7 B)

Diagnosis: Pollinarium with four separate, segmented pollinia with pollen tetrads arranged in transverse rows.

Description: Pollinarium with four separate, elongate segmented pollinia 0.5 mm in length, 0.4 mm in width ( Figs. 5 , 6 ); caudicles reduced; viscidium short; pollen tetrads spherical, from 20 µm–25 µm in diameter, arranged in rows between segments ( Fig. 7 , insert).

Remarks: All four pollinia are similar in length. The unique annulated structure of the pollinia and their resemblance to representatives of the genus Solenocentrum Schltr. that possess pollinaria with four elongate, segmented pollinia ( Dressler 1993) is why Annulites mexicana gen. n., sp. n. is tentatively assigned to the Neotropical Subtribe Cranichidinae . The pollinaria are attached to the mouthparts of a ptilodactyline beetle ( Ptilodactyla sp.) ( Coleoptera : Ptilodactylidae ) that is 1.4 mm in length ( Fig. 5 ).

Figures

Fig. 4. Mexican amber ptilodactyline beetle with attached pollinium of Annulites mexicana gen. n., sp. n. (arrow). Scale = 0.4 mm.

Fig. 5. Pollinium (arrow) of Annulites mexicana gen. n., sp. n. attached to the mouthparts of a ptilodactyline beetle in Mexican amber. Scale = 0.3 mm.

Fig. 6. Detail of annulated pollinia of Annulites mexicana gen. n., sp. n. Scale = 0.9 mm. Insert shows pollen tetrads (arrow) between segments. Scale = 80 µm.

Fig. 7. Outlines of pollinaria of Cylindrocites browni gen. n., sp. n. (A) and Annulites mexicana gen. n., sp. n. (B). Arrows show viscidia.