Libanophlebotomites, AZAR & MAALOUF & MAKSOUD, 2022

AZAR, DANY, MAALOUF, MOUNIR & MAKSOUD, SIBELLE, 2022, Libanophlebotomites ramyi, a new genus and species of phlebotomine sandflies from Lower Cretaceous Lebanese amber (Diptera: Psychodidae: Phlebotominae), Palaeoentomology 5 (4), pp. 340-346 : 341

Genus Libanophlebotomites gen. nov.

Type species. Libanophlebotomites ramyi sp. nov., by present designation.

Etymology. After Libanos = Lebanon in Greek “Λίβανος” + Phlebotomites , the fossil phlebotomine fossil genus found from Lebanese and Burmese ambers. Gender neutral.

Diagnosis. Head slightly ellipsoid without bump on occiput; antennae with 14 flagellomeres plus a small apical diminutive one (apiculus); well-rounded eyes without eyebridge; maxillary palps five-segmented with palpomeres II and III longest; well-developed mouthparts with sharp piercing mandibles and laciniae; wing with round apex; radial and medial forks long, almost at same level where R1 reaches costal margin; basal radial cell developed but relatively shorter than in other Cretaceous phlebotomines; legs very slightly shorter than the body length; this last character is unique in phlebotomine and usually present in psychodine, trichomyiine and sycoracine.