Protoculicoides skalskii Szadziewski & Arillo, 1998

Arillo, Antonio, Peñalver, Enrique & Delclòs, Xavier, 2008, Microphorites (Diptera: Dolichopodidae) from the Lower Cretaceous amber of San Just (Spain), and the co-occurrence of two ceratopogonid species in Spanish amber deposits, Zootaxa 1920, pp. 29-40 : 35-37

Protoculicoides skalskii Szadziewski & Arillo, 1998

Fig. 4 & Pl. 1, figs. d–e.

Material: the specimen CPT-970 ( Figs. 4 a–d & Pl. 1, figs. d–e) in a preparation of 12 x 12 x 2 mm, in origin together with some syninclusions (four hymenopterans of the family Scelionidae , CPT-966 to CPT-969, and one thysanopteran, CPT-971), and the specimen CPT-3343 ( Fig. 4 e) in an amber piece that was divided for the study of its biological inclusions (syninclusions include one Homoptera Perforissidae , 5 Hymenoptera , and 3 Diptera Keroplatidae ). For future comparisons, the number of the holotype of Protoculicoides skalskii Szadziewski & Arillo, 1998 was erroneously published in the original description, actually it is MCNA-8645.

Emended and completed description of the species: Largely based on original description by Szadziewski & Arillo (1998) and the two new specimens from San Just ( Fig. 4 ). Total length: 1.3–1.4 mm. Eyes well separated ( Figs. 4 b and 4e). Flagellum with 13 flagellomeres being 2–8 subglobular and 9–13 more elongated ( Fig. 4 e). Antennal ratio around 0.93. Proboscis very long, twice as long as the eye height. Total length of head with proboscis half the length of thorax plus abdomen. Palpus very slender, 5-segmented. Third palpal segment cylindrical, 0.10 mm long, sensilla capitata not visible. Fourth and fifth palpal segments equal in length. Scutellum rounded with four marginal setae. Legs slender, unmodified. Tibial spur of fore leg distinct. Hind tibial spur and tibial comb not visible. Fourth tarsomere almost cylindrical. Claws short, simple, equal, similar on all legs. Tarsal ratio of fore leg 1.7, of mid leg 2.1 and hind leg 2.5 (tarsal ratio of hind leg emended from original description as ratio of holotype was erroneous due to body angle). Wing length 0.8–0.9 mm. Wing membrane without macrotrichia; microtrichia distinct. C and R veins with long hairs on dorsal margin ( Fig. 4 d). Media petiolate. Both radial cells well developed, second one somewhat longer than first. Costa ending at tip of vein R3, costal ratio 0.73. Halter normal shaped ( Fig. 4 a). Abdomen not modified, cerci short.

Figures

FIGURE 4. Camera lucida drawings of the specimens of the species Protoculicoides skalskii (Ceratopogonidae) found in amber from San Just (Teruel Province). Details of the a) halter in lateral view (a – d from CPT- 970), b) head in dorsoposterior view, c) head and thorax in lateral view and d) wing (in this view the costal portion is obscured between first and second radial cells, see the above subfigure with this portion from wings of the specimen CPT- 3343), e) head and thorax of the specimen CPT- 3343 (in this figure all antennal segments are visible). All to the same scale (bar = 0.1 mm).