Palaeomacropis, 2007

Michez, Denis, Nel, Andre, Menier, Jean-Jacques & Rasmont, Pierre, 2007, The oldest fossil of a melittid bee (Hymenoptera: Apiformes) from the early Eocene of Oise (France), Zoological Journal of the Linnean Society 150 (4), pp. 701-709 : 703

GENUS PALAEOMACROPIS MICHEZ & NEL GEN. NOV.

Type species: Palaeomacropis eocenicus gen. nov. sp. nov.

Etymology: From the Greek Palaeo, meaning ‘old’, and Macropis referring to the similar contemporary bee genus (see Discussion).

Generic diagnosis: Female: glossa shorter than galea ( Fig. 2A, C ); paraglossa densely hairy; labial palpal segments similar and cylindrical ( Fig. 2A, C ); mandible with a very large preapical tooth on the upper margin ( Fig. 2A ); one subantennal suture branching ventrally on the antennal socket ( Fig. 2C ); facial foveae absent; vertex enlarged behind lateral ocelli ( Fig. 3A); basal width of propodeal triangle longer than four-fifths of basal width of propodeum; propodeal triangle bare; two submarginal cells, the second as long as the first ( Figs 3A, 4B ); second abscissa of Rs slanting and widely separated from 1m-cu ( Figs 3A, 4B ); apex of marginal cell pointed ( Figs 3A, 4B ); mid-basitarsus with dense plumose setae on inner and outer side ( Fig. 3B); trochanter with curved setae; no basitibial plate ( Fig. 3A); hind tibia and basitarsus with poorly developed scopa ( Fig. 2E ); hind basitarsus narrower than tibia ( Fig. 2E ); sterna with long, erect setae ( Figs 2D , 4A ). Male: unknown.

Figures

Figure 2. Palaeomacropis eocenicus gen. nov. sp. nov. A, facial view of mouthparts (scale = 0.3 mm). B, dorsolateral angle of pronotum with carina (scale = 0.5 mm). C, lateral view of mouthparts (scale = 0.3 mm). D, lateral view of metasoma with long, erect setae on sterna (0.4 mm). E, hind basitarsus (scale = 0.3 mm).

Figure 4. Palaeomacropis eocenicus gen. nov. sp. nov. A, lateral view of general habitus. B, dorsal view of general habitus (scale = 1 mm).