Protokalligramma, Yang, Qiang, Makarkin, Vladimir N. & Ren, Dong, 2011

Yang, Qiang, Makarkin, Vladimir N. & Ren, Dong, 2011, Two interesting new genera of Kalligrammatidae (Neuroptera) from the Middle Jurassic of Daohugou, China, Zootaxa 2873, pp. 60-68 : 61-62

Genus Protokalligramma gen. nov.

Type species. Protokalligramma bifasciatum gen. et sp. nov.

Etymology. Proto- (from the Greek protou, before) + - kalligramma (from Kalligramma , a genus-group name), in reference to the taxonomic affinity of the genus as an isolated (‘primitive’) taxon in Kalligrammatidae . Gender neuter ( ICZN, 1999: Article 30.1.2).

Diagnosis. The new genus may be distinguished from other kalligrammatid genera by the following combination of forewing character states: costal space strongly narrowed towards apex; simply (generalised) constructed MP, not pectinately branched [pectinate anteriorly directed branches in most other genera], cross venation relatively scarce [dense in most other genera], eye-spot absent [shared with Sophogramma Ren et Guo, 1996; present in other genera], CuP and 1A relatively short, not running parallel to hind margin [CuP, 1A long, running nearly parallel to hind margin in most other genera].

Comments. Protokalligramma gen. nov. is unusual among Kalligrammatidae as the forewing venation strongly differs from those of most other known genera. Nonetheless, this genus may not be treated as a representative of a new family (or assigned to another family) because its venation is generally concordant with that of Kalligrammatidae . Moreover, it is similar to that of the specimen from the Late Jurassic of Karatau named ‘ Kalligramma turutanovae ’ Martynova by Ponomarenko (2002: Fig. 254) (which itself likely represents a new genus). Protokalligramma bifasciatum gen. et sp. nov. shares with ‘ K. turutanovae ’ a similar generalised structure of MP, CuA, CuP and 1A. In the latter, however, a well-developed eye-spot is present, cross venation is dense, CuA and CuP are longer, running almost parallel to the hind margin for considerable distance.

The presence of dense short hairs on the membrane found in the wing of Protokalligramma gen. nov. is characteristic of many Kalligrammatidae . Panfilov (1968) mentioned them to be present in the genera Kalligramma Walker, 1904 , Meioneurites Handlirsch, 1906 , and Kalligrammula Handlirsch, 1919 . However, the membrane of the wings of other genera (e.g., Sophogramma, Apochrysogramma gen. nov.) lacks hairs. These hairs are most probably spinules (long ‘microtrichia’), i.e., non-cellular, non-innervated, non-socketed, and non-articulated cuticle processes, not true sensilla ( Vshivkova & Makarkin 2010). Minute true spinules (‘microtrichia’) occur on the wing membrane of some extant neuropteran families (e.g., Hemerobiidae , Ithonidae , Dilaridae ), but they are usually invisible (or hardly visible) in fossils. The only exception is the presence of rather long hairs (probably spinules) on part of the hind wing membrane in the Early Eocene ithonid Palaeopsychops setosus Archibald et Makarkin (Archibald & Makarkin 2006: Fig. 17).

Protokalligramma bifasciatum sp. nov. Figs. 1–3

Etymology. From the Latin bi, double, and fasciatus, striped, in references to the forewing color pattern of the holotype.

Holotype. Specimen No. CNU-NEU-NN2009026, deposited in CNUB. An incomplete, well-preserved forewing.

Type locality and horizon. Daohugou Village, Shantou Township, Ningcheng County, Inner Mongolia, China; Middle Jurassic (Bathonian, Jiulongshan Formation).

Description. Forewing broad, round-ovate, 60 mm long (as preserved; estimated complete length> 70 mm), 38 mm wide (as preserved; estimated complete width about 40 mm). Entire wing membrane densely covered with short hairs, longest in basal part of costal space (in region of humeral veinlet), long in anterior portion ( Fig. 3 B), and short to very short in other regions. Trichiation on veins relatively short. Trichosors not visible due to dense, short trichiation on and near margins, probably absent. Costa stout. Costal space most dilated at 1/4 proximal length; slightly narrowed towards wing base, narrowed towards apex. All subcostal veinlets in proximal half dichotomously branched, connected by 2-4 crossveins forming 3-4 irregular costal series. Humeral veinlet welldeveloped, recurrent and branched; two unknown vein-like structures in antehumeral space (one shown in Fig. 3 A, labeled vs). Subcostal space relatively narrow, with rather widely spaced crossveins. R1 space narrow; strongly narrowed basally. Rs originating close to base of wing, with seven preserved branches; origin of Rs1 close to origin of Rs, forked near its origin; Rs2-Rs4 profusely dichotomously forked. M and R clearly separated basally. Fork of M rather close to base of wing; MA and MP similarly constructed, both with few (dichotomous) branches distally. Cu divided into CuA and CuP very close to base of wing. CuA relatively short, with five distal pectinate branches, at least proximal-most branch deeply forked. CuP few-branched, forked twice in distal half. 1A profusely dichotomously branched. 2A pectinate, each branch dichotomously branched. 3A short, poorly preserved. Main area of wing posterior to R filled with regularly and widely spaced crossveins (compared with most other Kalligrammatidae ); crossveins apparently rare in area of marginal twigging. Jugal lobe not detected, apparently absent. Wing membrane fuscous, blackish in costal space, paler in distal and posterior portion of wing, with color pattern consisting of two transverse blackish bands, and several small dark brown or blackish patches basally and near hind margin.

Figures

FIGURES 1. Protokalligramma bifaciatum gen. et sp. nov. Holotype No. CNU-NEU-NN 2009026, general view of the specimen. A, part. B, counterpart. Scale bar = 10 mm.

FIGURES 2. Protokalligramma bifaciatum gen. et sp. nov. Holotype CNU-NEU- NN 2009026, composite drawing of the forewing venation. Scale bar = 10 mm.

FIGURES 3. Protokalligramma bifaciatum gen. et sp. nov. Holotype CNU-NEU- NN 2009026 (part). A, basal portion of the costal space. B, the forewing anterior portion showing dense long spinules (‘ microtrichia’) on the membrane. hv, humeral vein; R, radius, Sc, subcosta, vs, unknown venal structure. Scale bar = 1 mm (for A, B).