Palaeoboreochlus Baranov et Andersen, 2014

Baranov, Viktor, Andersen, Trond & Perkovsky, Evgeny, 2014, A new genus of Podonominae (Diptera: Chironomidae) in Late Eocene Rovno amber from Ukraine, Zootaxa 3794 (4), pp. 581-586 : 582-583

Palaeoboreochlus Baranov et Andersen , gen. n.

Type species. Palaeoboreochlus inornatus Baranov et Andersen , sp. n. (present designation by monotypy).

Etymology. Named after the related genus Boreochlus , using the Greek palaiois, ancient, as a prefix.

Diagnostic characters. The new genus groups with Boreochlus in having a simple gonostylus; flagellum with 14 flagellomeres; a long costal extension reaching the wing tip; no pulvilli; no anal point; crossvein MCu strongly retracted; and reniform, naked eyes. It can be separated from Boreochlus by the comparatively long flagellomere 14, slightly shorter than half the length of flagellomere 13; palpus with palpomere five about 5 times as long as wide; slender, smoothly rounded gonocoxite lacking volsella; and gonostylus with weak, rounded basal heel with few setae on low pedestals, and conical, apical portion without megaseta.

Generic diagnosis. Male. Small species, wing length about 1.5 mm.

Antenna. Flagellum with 14 flagellomeres. Flagellomere 14 slightly less than half the length of flagellomere 13, flagellomere 13 slightly longer than the length of fagellomeres 7–11 together. Plume well developed. Apex of flagellomere 14 apparently with several sensilla.

Head. Eye reniform, naked. Orbitals present. Palp with five palpomeres, length ratio between palpomeres 2–5 as: 0.20: 0.27: 0.24: 0.29.

Thorax. Scutal setation well developed, details poorly observable.

Wing. Membrane with coarse punctuation, setae not observed. Costa extended, ending near wing tip. MCu weak, strongly retracted, situated at about 1/3 the distance between arculus and RM. FCu slightly distal to RM.

Legs. LR 1 0.68. Tibial spurs with basal denticles. Tibial comb of several setae. Pulvilli absent.

Hypopygium. Abdominal segment IX well developed; without anal point. Gonocoxite slender, smoothly rounded, with setae along inner margin. Gonostylus simple, with weak, rounded basal heel with few setae on low pedestals, and conical apical portion, with distinct y-seta at base, without megaseta.