Protosmylus Krüger, 1913a

Winterton, Shaun L., Martins, Caleb Califre, Makarkin, Vladimir, Ardila-Camacho, Adrian & Wang, Yongjie, 2019, Lance lacewings of the world (Neuroptera: Archeosmylidae, Osmylidae, Saucrosmylidae): review of living and fossil genera, Zootaxa 4581 (1), pp. 1-99 : 57

Protosmylus Krüger, 1913a

( Figs 37–38 )

Type species. Osmylus pictus Hagen in Berendt, 1856: 86 (by original designation).

Diagnosis. Antennae comparatively long (with 38–52 flagellomeres), approximately equal to ⅔– wing length; ocelli present; female procoxa with elongate, lobed process on anterior surface; wings ovoid, hyaline, FW with dark irregular mottling; costal area relatively broad basally, subcostal veinlets simple, relatively closely spaced; both wings with relatively few crossveins in RA-RP area, RP with 8–9 branches; HW with stem of RP relatively long and curved, shorter in FW; two distinct gradate series in both wings; FW M fork at level of origin of RP1; FW MA with 3–4 pectinate branches, MP with 2–3 pectinate branches; FW CuA and CuP pectinately branched, both subequal in area of branching along wing margin; FW A1 with three pectinate branches.

Comments. The genotype of the subfamily Protosmylinae , Protosmylus was originally described based on a single forewing ( Pictet-Baraban & Hagen, 1856; Haug, 2003; Scheven, 2004; Wichard et al., 2009). The holotype of P. pictus is presumed lost, although a number of more complete specimens matching this species (and other new species) exist in museums and private collections. The comparatively long antenna is unique among Protosmylinae genera, which typically have relatively shorter antennae. The presence of an elongate process on the female forecoxa is also unique to this genus and is a character typically found in other subfamilies (e.g., Osmylinae ). Protosmylus belongs to a group of very similar genera comprising Osmylidia , Pseudosmylidia , Protosmylina and Lysmus , although it also has some features consistent with Jurosmylus and Juraheterosmylus , suggesting a slightly more distant relationship.

Included species.

P. pictus (Hagen in Berendt, 1856) (Europe) (late Eocene)

Figures

FIGURE 37. Protosmylinae. Protosmylus pictus (Hagen), photo of specimen in Baltic amber (photo: Jonas Damzen).

FIGURE 38. Protosmylinae. Protosmylus sp., photo of specimen in Baltic amber (photo: Marius Veta).