Cretaconiopteryginae, Liu & Lu, 2017

Liu, Xingyue & Lu, Xiumei, 2017, A remarkable new genus of Cretaceous dustywings (Neuroptera: Coniopterygidae) in amber from northern Myanmar, Zoological Systematics 42 (3), pp. 380-389 : 381-382

Subfamily Cretaconiopteryginae subfam. nov.

Type genus: Cretaconiopteryx gen. nov.

Diagnosis. Head ( Fig. 1F ) longer than wide, with elongated gena; frons well-sclerotized between antennal insertions; vertex feebly domed. Maxilla ( Fig. 1F ) with galea segmented. Both fore- and hindwing ( Fig. 3 ) with relatively dense crossveins, some of which are arranged into a gradate series distally; costal space with several distinct subcostal veinlets on distal half; distal part of forewing RA curved posteriad and connected with anteriorly curved RP, forming a loop; RP +MA originated from R near wing base in both fore- and hind wing; three or four crossveins present between RP +MA and MP in forewing; forewing MP lacking stiff setae. Abdominal plicatures present at least on segments 3–4 ( Fig. 2B ).

Remarks. The new subfamily is herein erected based on the new genus, Cretaconiopteryx gen. nov., which greatly differs from all other dustywing genera and cannot be placed into any of the three known subfamilies. Putative autapomorphies of Cretaconiopteryginae consist of the forewing RA and RP distally forming a loop, and the zig-zagged forewing CuP although these characters might also be autapomorphies just for the genus or even species (See Remarks of the new genus and Discussion). Moreover, the rather proximal origin of RP +MA in both fore- and hindwing as well as the gradate-like arrangement of crossveins are characteristic of this subfamily.

Figures

Figure 1. Cretaconiopteryx grandis gen. & sp. nov., holotype female. A. Habitus photo, dorsal view. B. Photo of forewing apex, showing loop formed by RA and RP (indicated by an arrow). C. Photo of protarsus. D. Photo of head, dorsal view. E. Terminal segments of antenna. F. Drawing of head, dorsal view.Abbreviation: gl—galea; lb—labrum; lp—labial palp; mp—maxillary palp; t— tarsomere. Scale bars:A–B, D, F=1.0mm; C=0.25mm; E=0.5mm.

Figure 2. Cretaconiopteryx grandis gen. & sp. nov., holotype female. A. Habitus photo, ventral view. B. Lateral portion of abdominal segment 3 (as located on A) showing plicature (indicated by an arrow), ventral view. C. Drawing of genitalia (arrow indicated putative element of segment 10), ventral view. Abbreviation: e—ectoproct; gx—gonocoxite; pl—plicature; T—tergum. Scale bars: A, C = 1.0mm; B=0.5mm.

Figure 3. Drawings of fore- and hindwings of Cretaconiopteryx grandis gen. & sp. nov., holotype female.A. Right fore- and hindwing; B. Left fore- and hindwing. Arrows: 1, stem of hind wing MA; 2, forewing humeral veinlet; 3, loop formed by forewing RA and RP; 4, zig-zagged proximal part of forewing CuP; 5, abrupt curve of hind wing ScP (or distal scp-ra crossvein); 6, gradate-like arrangement of distal crossveins. Scale bar =1.0mm.