Megalyra baltica Poinar and Shaw, 2007

Poinar, George, Jr. & Shaw, Scott R., 2007, Megalyra baltica Poinar and Shaw n. sp. (Hymenoptera: Megalyridae), a long-tailed wasp from Baltic amber, Zootaxa 1478 (1), pp. 65-68 : 65-67

Megalyra baltica Poinar and Shaw n. sp.

( Figs. 1 –4 )

The fossil is well preserved and complete except the right antenna and the last 2 metatarsal segments on the left leg are missing ( Figs. 1A–D ).

Female. Body length, 6.6 mm; Color silver- black ( Fig. 1A ); head and thorax (and abdomen to a lesser extent) covered with fine, white, erect setae; setal tufts absent.

Head. Broad, rounded, wider than long ( Fig. 1D ); length 0.92 mm; width 1.70 mm; face width 0.92 mm; head covered with irregularly positioned small to large foveae (except for longitudinal row of small foveae extending between dorsal ocelli); distance between foveae mostly shorter than their diameters; compound eyes large, prominent, inner margins convex, slightly divergent above; eyes surrounded by band-like border bearing large foveae; eyes bearing microscopic fine, short erect setae; maximum diameter of compound eye 0.81 mm; ocelli large, maximum diameter of lateral ocellus 0.14 mm; distance between lateral ocellus and compound eye 0.22 mm; distance between lateral ocelli 0.22 mm; antennae longer than head and mesosoma combined ( Figs. 1C , 4 ), filiform; scape (antennal segment 1) widest; pedicel (antennal segment 2) shortest; flagellomere 1 (antennal segment 3) longest; remaining flagellomeres sub-equal in length; length of first flagellomere 0.29 mm; width of first flagellomere 0.12 mm.

Mesosoma ( Figs. 1B–D ). Front margin of mesoscutum convex; length of mesoscutum 0.95 mm; maximum width of mesoscutum 1.76 mm; scutellum separated from large triangular axillae by punctate groves; propodeum with four large rectangular foveae in mid-line of horizontal face; forewing length 5.0 mm; wing membrane lightly infumate throughout; small stigma present; most veins highly sclerotized ( Fig. 2 ); Rs curving up almost to wing margin; Rs-M reaching wing margin; 1A continuing almost to wing margin; M-Cu1 prominent; Cu1 prominent; M straight; 1mcu prominent; hind wing lightly infumate throughout ( Fig. 3 ); length 3.80 mm; Rs departing from Sc-R at 42% of wing length; all tibia bear- ing single spine (spur) at apex; metabasitarsus with row of comb-like setae on ventral surface; hind femur swollen, maximum length 1.20 mm; maximum width 0.62 mm.

Metasoma. Silvery, smooth except for few scattered erect setae; length 3.50 mm; width 1.43 mm; hypopygium short, ovipositor length 5.20 mm; ovipositor tip with at least 15 teeth.

Ratios: Face width/eye size, 1.14; first flagellomere-length/width, 2.42; length first flagellomere/ length second flagellomere, 0.70; length hind femur/width hind femur, 0.54; head width/ head length, 1.85; length mesoscutum/width mesoscutum, 0.54; length metasoma/length body, 0.53; length metasoma/ width metasoma, 1.82; maximum diameter ocellus/ distance between ocelli, 0.64; ovipositor length/ body length, 0.79; distance between lateral ocelli/ distance between lateral ocellus and compound eye, 1.00.

Material examined. Holotype female in Baltic amber deposited in the Poinar amber collection maintained at Oregon State University (accession # H-10-187).

Etymology. The specific name “baltica” indicates the kind of amber and the place of origin of the fossil in Russia near the Baltic Sea.

Figures

FIGURE 1. Megalyra baltica Poinar and Shaw n. sp. in Baltic amber. Length of specimen, 6.60 mm. A. Left lateral view. B. Right subdorsal view. C. Ventral view showing antenna. D. Dorsal view showing sculpturing on mesosoma.

FIGURES 2–4. Megalyra baltica Poinar and Shaw n. sp. in Baltic amber. 2. Forewing. Bar = 0.72 mm. 3. Hind wing. Bar = 0.66 mm. 4. Antenna. Bar = 0.63 mm.