Protimaspis costalis Kinsey, 1937

LIU, ZHIWEI, ENGEL, MICHAEL S. & GRIMALDI, DAVID A., 2007, Phylogeny and Geological History of the Cynipoid Wasps (Hymenoptera: Cynipoidea), American Museum Novitates 3583, pp. 1-48 : 5-7

Protimaspis costalis Kinsey figures 1 , 2

Protimaspis costalis Kinsey, 1937: 22 .

DIAGNOSIS: As for the genus (see above).

DESCRIPTION: The placement of this taxon has historically been hindered by several factors. For example, Kinsey (1937) in his description of the species stated that the sex of the fossil ‘‘is not quite clear’’, but we have no doubt that this is a female. Certainly more details of the specimen can be observed owing to the advances in methods of preparation as well as in optical equipment available. Furthermore, Kinsey’s original description used characters that are now understood to be superficial. We therefore provide the following new description for the species.

Female. Body length 1.9 mm; forewing length 1.8 mm. Antenna 15-segmented, with distinct placodeal sensilla on all flagellomeres except F1; F1 slightly bent medially. Frons flat, without carinate structures. Lateral part of cranium distinctly expanded behind compound eye; gena broad; occipital carina absent. Median dorsal length of pronotum behind anterior vertical plate short; pronotal carina absent; pronotal crest low and not incised medially, and dorsal pronotal area present and short; posteroventral margin of pronotum long and straight; lateral surface of pronotum glabrous. Mesonotum transversely costate; median mesoscutal impression and notauli absent; mesoscutellar suture transverse; mesoscutellum posteriorly sloped, without projection or process; mesopleuron ventrally protruding; mesocoxa directed obliquely backward, inserted on separate, oblique posterior area; median mesopleural impression and lateroventral mesopleural carina absent; mesopleural triangle slightly depressed with longitudinal striation; mesofemural groove present, granulate. Metapleural sulcus abruptly bent at middle; metepisternum subrectangular. Propodeal spiracular opening not completely covered by spiracular process, similar to extant Ibalia when observed laterally; lateral propodeal carina present; nucha short. Forewing lacking pterostigma; marginal cell closed, four times as long as wide; bulla in Sc+R 1 present; 2r-rs directed obliquely, sloping outward posteriorly; Rs+M with mesal end meeting first free abscissa of M (5 basal vein) slightly behind the middle; areolet present. Metacoxa dorsally strongly depressed and lateroanteriorly with a triangular process. Petiolar annulus crescentic and glabrous; metasomal T4 largest among all terga, lateroposterior margin more or less vertical and straight; metasomal T3–6 subequal along middorsal line. Male. Unknown.

HOLOTYPE: Female , Late Cretaceous (Campanian), Cedar Lake, Manitoba, Canada; deposited in the Royal Ontario Museum.

Stolamissidae Liu and Engel , new family

TYPE GENUS: Stolamissus Liu and Engel , new genus.

DIAGNOSIS: This new family is distinguished from other cynipoids by the apomorphic combination of the following traits: (1) mesosoma short and high in lateral view; (2) pronotal crest and dorsal pronotal area absent; (3) mesocoxa directed vertically and downward; (4) lateral pronotal carina distinct; (5) pterostigma lacking ( figs. 3 , 4 ); (6) Rs+M of forewing with mesal end meeting the first free abscissa of M (5 basal vein) at about the middle; and, (7) posterior margin of metasomal T2 not distinctly oblique.

Figures

Fig. 1. Photomicrograph of holotype female of Protimaspis costalis Kinsey (ROM) in Canadian amber from Cedar Lake.

Fig. 2. Holotype female of Protimaspis costalis Kinsey (ROM).

Fig. 3. Photomicrograph of holotype female of Stolamissus mirabilis Liu and Engel, new genus and species (NJ-709).

Fig. 4. Holotype female of Stolamissus mirabilis Liu and Engel, new genus and species (NJ-709).