Longicellochrysa yixiana

Ren, Dong, Makarkin, Vladimir N. & Yang, Qiang, 2010, A new fossil genus of Mesochrysopidae (Neuroptera) from the Early Cretaceous Yixian Formation of China, Zootaxa 2523, pp. 50-56 : 51-53

Longicellochrysa yixiana gen. et sp. nov.

( Figs 1–5 )

Diagnosis. See generic diagnosis.

Description. Head relatively elongate; vertex with distinct longitudinal epicranial suture ( Fig. 3 ); eyes poorly preserved; antennae moniliform, flagellomeres transverse (twice as wide as long), covered with dense minute hairs; antennal sockets situated closely to each other. Prothorax crumpled as preserved, slightly shorter than length of head. Mesothorax: prescutum with distinct mid-dorsal suture; shape of scutum and scutellum unclear. Details of metathorax poorly visible. Femora and tibiae of all legs covered with dense, very short hairs; fore femur somewhat stouter that tibia. Hairs on thorax and abdomen not apparent.

Forewing: 61 mm long, ca. 17 mm wide. Costal space very slightly expanded in proximal part, narrowed at base of wing. Subcostal veinlets proximal to pterostigma simple, widely spaced; connected by two crossveins in left wing (aberration). Pterostigma distinct, occupying four costal cells. Veinlets of Sc and Sc+R1 forked distal to pterostigma, connected by two rows of crossveins. Subcostal space narrow, crossveins not detected. R1 space (between R1 and Rs) tapering basally, with 22 crossveins before pterostigma. Stem of Rs smooth, slightly zigzagged distally, with 16 regularly pectinate, zigzagged branches. Crossveins in radial space numerous, not forming distinct gradate series. No crossveins between stem of Rs and M. Anterior Banksian line distinct, straight, not accompanied by Banksian fold (wings preserved as flatten); posterior Banksian line not detected (probably absent). M divided into MA and MP well proximal to origin of Rs1, and distal to origin of Rs. MA and MP short, arched, somewhat zigzagged; with only one deep branch of MP. First intramedian cell (im) long, about 5 times longer than maximal width. Basal crossvein 1m-cu long, at origin of M; 2m-cu connecting im and CuA long. Crossveins in medial, mediocubital spaces numerous, not forming distinct gradate series. Cu divided into CuA and CuP rather close to wing base, opposite 1m-cu. CuA somewhat zigzagged, with 3 pectinate branches. CuP short, with deep terminal fork. Five crossveins between CuA and CuP. 1A arched, with deep terminal fork. 2A simple, arched. 3A probably simple (incompletely preserved).

Hind wing: 50 mm preserved length (estimated length 51 mm; 0.83 times as long as forewing). Costal space narrowed to wing apex, with simple subcostal veinlets. Pterostigma distinct. Veinlets of Sc+R1 distal to pterostigma connected by crossveins. Subcostal space narrow, crossveins not detected. Radial space poorly preserved, apparently similar to that of forewing. M poorly preserved; MA apparently simple for most of length; MP occupying greater space, at least with two deep forks. CuA short, with 3-4 branches. 1A well developed. 2A, 3A not preserved.

Material. Holotype CNU-NEU-LJ2009012P (part), CNU-NEU-J2009012C (counterpart). An incomplete specimen in dorsal aspect. Housed at the Key Laboratory of Insect Evolutionary and Environmental Change, College of Life Sciences, Capital Normal University, Beijing, China.

Type locality and horizon. Chaomidian Village, Shangyuan Township, Beipiao City, Liaoning Province, NE China. Early Cretaceous Yixian Formation (see Ren & Makarkin 2008).

Etymology. The specific epithet is derived from the Yixian Formation.

Figures

FIGURE 3. Longicellochrysa yixiana gen. et sp. nov. Head of the holotype (part CNU-NEU-LJ 2009012 P) showing epicranial suture (arrow). Scale bar = 1 mm.

FIGURES 1, 2. Longicellochrysa yixiana gen. et sp. nov. Holotype, general view of the specimen. 1, part CNU-NEU- LJ 2009012 P; 2, counterpart CNU-NEU-J 2009012 C.

FIGURES 4, 5. Longicellochrysa yixiana gen. et sp. nov. Holotype CNU- NEU-LJ 2009012 P. 4, drawing of the specimen as preserved; 5, forewing venation. Scale bar = 10 mm.