Goerania Liu and Engel, 2007

LIU, ZHIWEI, ENGEL, MICHAEL S. & GRIMALDI, DAVID A., 2007, Phylogeny and Geological History of the Cynipoid Wasps (Hymenoptera: Cynipoidea), American Museum Novitates 3583, pp. 1-48 : 11-14

Goerania Liu and Engel , new genus

TYPE SPECIES: Goerania petiolata Liu and Engel , new species.

DIAGNOSIS: Median flagellomere of antenna cylindrical, with very dense longitudinal placodeal sensilla. Head distinctly impressed posteriorly in dorsal view; gena expanded behind compound eyes; vertex, gena, and occiput glabrous. Anterior pronotal flange long; submedian depression of pronotum present and open laterally; dorsal pronotal area distinct; pronotal crest not observable; lateral surface of pronotum sloped evenly, without foveate sculpture. Mesoscutum transversely costate; median impression and lateral notauli distinct; lateral margin of axilla conspicuously raised anteriorly. Forewing without pterostigma; 2r-rs long and perpendicular to anterior wing margin; marginal cell closed; bulla in Sc+R 1 present; Rs+M issuing from close to posterior two-thirds of first free abscissa of M (5 basal vein). Mesocoxa inserted vertically; metatibia distinctly longer than metafemur and with a longitudinal carina on dorsal surface. Metasoma strongly compressed laterally; nucha low; petiolar annulus positioned low, long; petiole at least twice as long as wide, longitudinally carinate; posterior margin of petiole and anterior margin of metasomal T1 abutting, dorsal margins of the two more or less continuous (i.e., without constriction between segments); metasomal T2–7 of female visible and subequal in length along middorsal line.

ETYMOLOGY: The genus is named after Dr. Göran Nordlander, Uppsala, Sweden, who has significantly contributed to our current understanding of cynipoid relationships and mentored several of the most active cynipoid researchers worldwide.

COMMENTS: The new genus belongs to the clade consisting of the subfamilies Oberthuerellinae and Liopterinae . Although it is difficult to collect sufficient characters to incorporate the species into the analysis of cynipoid phylogeny, several observable features strongly indicate its placement within this clade, including the following: (1) lateral margin of axilla conspicuously raised anteriorly; (2) petiolar annulus long, median dorsal length at least twice as long as minimum dorsal width (estimated from lateral view); and (3) posterior margin of petiole (5 metasomal T1) and anterior margin of metasomal T2 abutting, dorsal margins of the two more or less continuous (i.e., without constriction between segments).

Goerania can be easily separated from genera in the Oberthuerellinae and Liopterinae by the absence of foveate sculpture on the lateral surface of the pronotum and the postpetiolar terga of the metasoma being subequal in length.

Goerania petiolata Liu and Engel , new species figures 7 , 8

DIAGNOSIS: As for the genus (see above).

DESCRIPTION: Female. Body length 3.0 mm, forewing length 2.5 mm. Antenna filiform, 14-segmented. Anterior plate of pronotum transversely costate. Mesoscutum transversely weakly costate; median impression distinctly present in posterior one-third; notauli percurrent; parascutal carina posterolaterally smooth and not raised; mesoscutellum foveate-reticulate, posteriorly broadly rounded; dorsal lateral process present; scuto-scutellar suture transverse and separated into two foveae by a median carina. Forewing marginal cell closed, 3.8 times as long as wide; Rs+M proximally directed toward posterior two-thirds of basal vein; areolet distinct. First metatarsomere slightly shorter than combined length of second through fifth metatarsomeres. Petiolar annulus long, median dorsal length at least two times as long as minimum dorsal width (estimated from lateral view). Male. Unknown.

HOLOTYPE: Female , CAS, Late Cretaceous (Campanian), Medicine Hat, Alberta, Canada; deposited in the CNC.

ETYMOLOGY: The specific epithet is taken from Latin, petiolata , meaning ‘‘stalked’’, and is a reference to the long petiolar segment of the species. Indeed, this is the oldest species with an extended petiole in the Cynipoidea .

FAMILY FIGITIDAE THOMSON

DIAGNOSIS: Figitids are morphologically diverse, making unifying traits a challenge to identify. Ronquist (1995 b, 1999) suggested that the Figitidae are supported by two apomorphies: presence of a distinct point of weakness in the eighth metasomal tergum of the female at the position of the gonoplac (5 third valvula), and forewing Rs+M situated close to the end of the first free abscissa of M (5 basal vein). Further potential apomorphies include a vertical posterior margin of metasomal T2 and the presence of a longitudinal carina on the posterior surface of the metatibia. Although each of the above characters except for the first has similar states in other lineages of Cynipoidea , the unique combination of these traits supports the separation of Figitidae from other cynipoids.

COMMENTS: Species of Figitidae are relatively small and are primary parasitoids, principally on Diptera , but hosts also include chrysopid and hemerobiid lacewings (Neuroptera) or Cynipidae . In addition, some species are hyperparasitoids of braconid and chalcidoid primary parasitoids of aphids and psyllids. Ronquist (1995 b, 1999) considerably altered the concept of Figitidae . Ronquist was able to demonstrate from his analyses that figitids were paraphyletic, and he incorporated into Figitidae some groups that historically had been regarded as distinct families. The current classification of Figitidae is summarized in table 1.

SUBFAMILY INCERTAE SEDIS

Figures

Fig. 7. Photomicrograph of holotype female of Goerania petiolata Liu and Engel, new genus and species (CAS).

Fig. 8. Holotype female of Goerania petiolata Liu and Engel, new genus and species (CAS).