Xyloesteles parvulus Popov & Herczek

Popov, Yuri A., Herczek, Aleksander & Ek, Jola Bro Ż, 2011, The first fossil Dufoureillini (Hemiptera: Heteroptera: Anthocoridae: Lyctocorinae) from the Eocene Baltic amber, Zootaxa 2760, pp. 53-60 : 54-58

Xyloesteles parvulus Popov & Herczek sp. nov.

( Figs. 1–8 )

Description. Dorsal surface of body rather light ( Fig. 1 ). Head moderate size and distinctly short; eyes quite large and distinctly produced laterally; ocelli large and somewhat elevated ( Fig. 5 ). Pronotum trapezoidal, convex, distinctly transversal, 2.5 times as wide as long; lateral margins widely carinate ( Figs. 1 , 5 ); posterior margin distinctly emarginated. Mesoscutellum distinct rough.

Measurements (type, all in mm). Male: body length 1.9, width 0.83; length of head 0.15, width 0.36; width of vertex 0.12; width of eye 0.13; length of antennal segments: 1-4 equal to 0.07: 0.23: 0.16: 0.17; rostral segments: equal to 0.05: 0.06: 0.07; pronotum: maximum length 0.27, anterior width 0.37, posterior width 0.69; mesoscutum length 0.26, width 0.5; scutellum length 0.11, width 0.33; claval commissure 0.31; fore legs: length of femur 0.39, tibia 0.28, tarsus 0.1(0.02: 0.04: 0.05); hind legs: length of femur 0.52, tibia 0.6, tarsus 0.16 (0.02: 0.05: 0.06).

Differential diagnosis. This new species is clearly separated from X. kerneggeriorum sp.nov. by its larger and distinctly produced eyes, large elevated ocelli, more transversal pronotum (2.5 times), widely carinate lateral margins of pronotum and more emarginated posterior pronotal margin.

Etymology. The species epithet is the Latin adjective parvulus (=minute), referring to the small size of it.

Material examined. Type material. Holotype, male ( Fig. 1 ); Eocene, Baltic amber; light yellowish small-size piece of amber (17 x 8 mm) of irregular shape; coll. Geological-Palaeontological Institute and Museum, University of Hamburg, Type Kat. Nr. 4540 (ex. coll. Carsten Gröhn, Glinde, Germany. Nr. 5320).

Xyloesteles kerneggeriorum Popov & Herczek sp.nov. ( Figs. 9–12 )

Description. Dorsal surface of body uniformly black. Head moderate size and short; eyes somewhat large and weakly produced laterally; ocelli rather small, not elevated. Pronotum moderate transversal, 2.2 times as wide as long; lateral margins moderately carinate; posterior margin weakly emarginated. Mesoscutellum glabrous.

Measurements (type, all in mm). Female: Body length 1.83, width 0.8; length of head 0.16, width 0.32; width of vertex 0.12; width of eye 0.07; length of antennal segments: 1–4 equal to 0.06: 0.18: 0.11: 0.13; rostral segments: not visible; pronotum: maximum length 0.28, anterior width 0.28, posterior width 0.62; mesoscutum length 0.25, width 0.33; scutellum length 0.13; claval commissure 0.28; hind legs: length of femur 0.41, tarsus 0.16 (0.02: 0.04: 0.06).

Etymology. This species is named after Yu. Popov’s friends Barbara and Karnegger (Hamburg, Germany), the owners of amber inclusion collection.

Material examined. Type material. Holotype, Nr. 290/2002 – 1, male ( Fig. 1 ); Eocene, Baltic amber, light yellowish small-size piece of amber (17 x 8 mm) of irregular shape; coll. Senkenberg Museum in Frankfurt/Main (ex. Coll. Friedrich Kernegger, Hamburg, Germany).

Figures

FIGURE 5. Xyloesteles parvulus sp. nov. Holotype, dorsal view.

FIGURE 9. Xyloesteles kerneggeriorum sp. nov .. Holotype, Nr. 290 / 2002 – 1, male; coll. Senkenberg Museum in Frankfurt / Main, dorsal view.

FIGURES 1 – 2. Xyloesteles parvulus sp. nov. 1. Holotype, male; coll. GPIH, nr. 4540, ventral view. 2. Head and pronotum.

FIGURES 3 – 4. Xyloesteles parvulus sp. nov. 3. Lateral view. 4. Metapleural area.