Thaumatomerope sinensis Lian & Huang, 2023

Lian, Xin-Neng, Cai, Chen-Yang, Feng, Zhuo & Huang, Di-Ying, 2023, The first species of Thaumatomeropidae (Insecta: Mecoptera) from the Middle Triassic of China, Zootaxa 5396 (1), pp. 16-21 : 17-19

Thaumatomerope sinensis Lian & Huang , sp. nov.

Fig. 1

Material. Holotype, NIGP203509 ; hindwing or forewing unknown, parts of wing base, wing anterior and apex missing. Length 8.0 mm, width 3.0 mm.

Etymology. Name after sina, which means China.

Diagnosis. Sc with 6 branches, Rs with only 6 branches, the posterior last branch of Rs single, the anterior first branch of M multi-branched, M with 13 or 14 branches.

Type locality and horizon. A locality near the Hejiafang Village , Tongchuan City , Shaanxi Province, Northwest China; the Chang 7 Member of the Yanchang Formation; late Middle Triassic (Ladinian) .

Description. A relatively broad wing, wing base petiole-like, venation stronger near wing base; many crossveins blurry, which may not be able to identify; Sc with 6 comb-like branches, several crossveins intercepted between Sc branches, crossveins denser near base; humeral vein strong and distinct; R 1 curved, apex with one extra small anterior branch, possible more veins in the area that not preserved; pterostigma present, but only preserved the apical part, with darker color; Rs comb-like, with 6 branches, several crossveins detected; M with 13 confirmed dichotomous branches, the first main branch of M subdivided into 5 branches; the second main branch of M subdivided into 8 branches, some forks small; some crossveins connecting branches of M; CuA (or last branched of M) single, apex curved, fused with M stem near wing base, with 3 crossveins connecting M; CuP (or CuA) single, base missed.

Remarks. The new species, Thaumatomerope sinensis Lian & Huang , sp. nov., generally differs from Th. sogdiana Rasnitsyn, 1974 by its smaller wing size (wing 8.0 mm long vs. ≥ 9.0 mm), reduced Rs branches (6 branches vs. 10–14 branches), posterior last branch of Rs single instead of multi-branched, and anterior first branch of M multi-branched instead of 2 branches or single; differs from Th. minuta Rasnitsyn, 1974 by its larger wing size (wing 8 mm long vs. 5.5 mm), more complicated Sc (6 branches vs. 4 branches), reduced Rs branches (6 branches vs. 9 branches), posterior last branch of Rs single instead of multi-branched, and anterior first branch of M multi-branched instead of 2 branches or single; differs from Th. madygenica Rasnitsyn, 1974 by its smaller wing size (wing 8.0 mm long vs. ≥ 11.5 mm), reduced Rs branches (6 branches vs. 14–18 branches), and posterior last branch of Rs single instead of multi-branched; differs from Th. oligoneura Rasnitsyn, 1974 by its broader wing, smaller wing size (wing 8.0 mm long vs. ≥ 13.0 mm), posterior last branch of Rs single instead of multi-branched, and anterior first branch of M multi-branched instead of 2 branches or single.

Figures

FIGURE 1. Thaumatomerope sinensis Lian & Huang, sp. nov., holotype, NIGP203509, upper Middle Triassic Yanchang Formation at Hejiafang Village, Tongchuan City. A, Photograph taken when moistened with 75% alcohol under vertical reflected light. B, Photograph taken under lateral reflected light. C, Line drawing of wing. Scale bars = 1 mm.