Bicaubittacus Tan & Hua

Tan, Jiang-Li & Hua, Bao-Zhen, 2009, Bicaubittacus, a new genus of the Oriental Bittacidae (Mecoptera) with descriptions of two new species, Zootaxa 2221, pp. 27-40 : 29

Bicaubittacus Tan & Hua , gen. nov.

Type species: Bittacus appendiculatus Esben-Petersen, 1927

Etymology. The generic name is derived from the Latin, bicau (two tails) + Bittacus (hangingfly), referring to the two extremely long prolongations of male gonocoxites and the separation from Bittacus .

Diagnosis. The new genus is related to Bittacus , but can be readily identified from the latter by the two long distal prolongations of male gonocoxites; epandrial appendage (tergum 9) long and complicated by apical prolongation, highly modified dorso-mesal and ventral processes; fourth tarsomere with a spine on each side.

Description. Body yellowish brown. Head with vertex yellowish brown; ocellar triangle black; flagellum filiform, approximately half length of the body; compound eyes black, widely separated below antennae.

Thorax with nota unevenly dark brown, pleura pale yellow. Legs dingy yellow, with distal ends of femora and tibiae blackish brown; short black setae sparsely located on femora, tibiae and tarsi; hind basitarsus longer than fourth tarsomere; fourth tarsomere with a spine on each side. Wings unspotted, hyaline with a faint yellowish tinge; pterostigma a little darker than the membrane; two pale brown nygmata in cells R4+5 and 1R5; a whitish thyridium at first fork of media (FM) and at the base of M4; in forewing, Pcv 1–2; Sc ending near the level of FRs; anal crossvein (Av, the apical crossvein between CuP and 1A) absent; vein 1A terminating before the level of FM; in hindwing 1A coalesces with CuP only for a short distance.

Abdomen of male with sex pheromone glands on the intersegmental membrane after terga VI and VII bilobed; each epandrial appendage (tergum 9) complicated by apical prolongation, highly modified dorsal and ventral processes; gonocoxites with two long distal prolongations which curve upwards distally. On abdomen of female, tergum X dingy yellow, narrow, extending slightly ventrad. Two halves of subgenital plate separated to the very apex by a distinct membranous suture; dorsal margin curved smoothly not deeply emarginate.

Distribution. The Oriental Region ( China, Myanmar).