Paduniella cretacea, Wichard, 2023

Wichard, Wilfried, 2023, Fossil Trichoptera embedded in mid-Cretaceous Burmese amber, Contributions to Entomology 73 (2), pp. 167-179 : 167

Paduniella cretacea sp. nov.

Fig. 2

Holotype.

Male-specimen deposited Zoological Research Museum Alexander Koenig, Bonn, Germany, Inventory no.: ZFMK-TRI000835 (ex coll. Patrick Müller)

Preservation.

The fossil male is well preserved in amber. Antennae present, as well as the six-segmented maxillary palps. The labial palps are not recognizable. The forewings show the venation well, the hind wings are unfortunately hidden. The inferior appendages of the male genital are visible from ventral.

Etymology.

The extinct Paduniella species is named after its geological age of the Cretaceous period (latin: Cretaceum).

Description.

Male, forewings ca. 2.8 mm long, antennae about half as long as forewing. Maxillary palps each six-segmented (Fig. 2C ); labial palps not visible. Each forewing has forks II, III, IV, and V; hindwings not visible. In ventral view (Fig. 2B ), male genitalia have deep, bifurcated inferior processes each with an elongate, overhanging process that is tapered and slightly curved apically. In lateral view (Fig. 2D ), a slender median process is visible.

Diagnosis.

The male genitalia of Paduniella species have inferior appendages whose apices are either bifurcated or unbifurcated ( Li and Morse 1997). The extinct Paduniella cretacea sp. nov. has similar to the extant species, P. tanidai from Japan (Nishimoto, 2011) and P. burmana (Johanson & Olah, 2010) from the Oriental region, bifurcated inferior appendages that are deeply incised at the apex rather than superficially notched. The fossil species is distinguished from the two extant species in the deeply bifurcated apex of the inferior appendage because one fork is needle-like, acuminate, and curved and clearly protrudes above the other stouter fork. Paduniella cretacea sp. nov. is the first fossil Paduniella species found in ca. 100 million year old mid-Cretaceous Burmese amber.

Figures

Figure 2. Paduniella cretacea sp. nov. in mid-Cretaceous Burmese amber, male holotype (Inventory no.: ZFMK-TRI 0008359. A. Male in ventral view; B. Paired bifurcated inferior appendages in ventral view; C. Paired 6 - segmented maxillary palps; D. Drawing of bifurcated inferior appendages (inf app) and median process (med pro) in lateral view.