Chartocerus azizae Burks, Woolley, Kesbeh , Eldridge & Dal Molin, 2020

Burks, Roger A., Woolley, James B., Kesbeh, Shroq O., Eldridge, Devon S., Dal Molin, Ana & Heraty, John M., 2020, Discovery and description of the first known fossil Signiphoridae (Hymenoptera, Chalcidoidea), Journal of Hymenoptera Research 77, pp. 219-226 : 219

Chartocerus azizae Burks, Woolley, Kesbeh, Eldridge & Dal Molin sp. nov.

Figs 1-6 , 7-13

Male

(n = 2). Body length 0.67-0.75 mm.

Type material.

The Baltic amber piece containing the holotype and paratype contains two inclusions, both males of this species [AMNH B-JWJ-73, UCRCENT00237907]. The amber was not cut to separate the specimens, because fractures in the piece would endanger the inclusions (Fig. 1 ). The holotype (Fig. 1 : Holotype, Figs 2 , 5 - 7 , 9 , 11 , 12 ) is the specimen with one wing folded over the body. The paratype (Fig. 1 : Paratype, Figs 3 , 4 , 8 , 10 , 13 ) is the specimen with both wings raised, near a fractured edge in the amber. Types deposited in AMNH.

Diagnosis.

Fore wing venation with setae M1, M2b, and M6 present, thus fore wing venation with a total of 10 dorsal setae, with 7 on the marginal vein (Fig. 7 ). Male antenna with one anellus (Fig. 4 : anl). Mesofemur with 2 stout ventral setae subapically (Fig. 13 : mfs). Fore wing with strong raised surface sculpture (Fig. 7 ).

Color and sculpture.

Head and antenna. Head dark brown, pedicel, funicle and clava brown.

Body.

Mesosoma and metasoma uniformly as dark brown as head; patchy light areas are visible on the holotype, however these appear to be artifacts of preservation in amber. Fore wings hyaline except for infuscate area below marginal vein and at wing base, hind wings hyaline. Profemur dark with light areas at apex, protibia dark; mesofemur and mesotibia dark, mesobasitarsus light, metafemur and metatibia dark.

Head (Figs 4 , 5 ). Clava about 5 × as long as broad, with about 40 MPS (Fig. 4 ); one anellus present (Fig. 4 : anl). Scape inserted slightly ventral to lower eye margin, about 0.55 × clava length; pedicel 0.3 × clava length. Mandible small, with two short teeth (Fig. 5 : man) of equal length. Face with shallow coriaceous sculpture; antennal scrobe distinctly margined dorsally, rounded interantennal elevation present. Vertex narrowly rounded. Postgenae posteriorly separated (therefore subforaminal bridge similar to that in Burks and Heraty. 2015: fig. 6h).

Mesosoma (Figs 2 , 6 - 10 ). Pronotum short. Mesoscutum shallowly sculptured (transversely coriaceous), with sparse, scattered, minute setae, only slightly longer than mesoscutellum. Mesoscutum:mesoscutellum 1.43, number of setae on mesoscutum not visible. Mesoscutellar sculpture nearly isodiametric. Metascutellum with transverse sculpture with meshes longer than those on the mesoscutum. One pair of setae visible on mesoscutellum, mesoscutellum:metascutum 2.33.

Prosternum and lower mesepisternum transversely sculptured. Prepectus dorsally short, shallowly sculptured. Mesepisternum short, with sulcus-like mesodiscrimen, with mesofurcal pit near mesocoxal insertions. Mesopleural sulcus indicated. Foretibial spur curved and bifid, without a comb of fine setae (Fig. 10 : fls). Mesotibia expanded apically, with two stout dorsal spines; mesotibial spur stout, setose. Mesobasitarsus:mesofemur 0.36, mesotibial spur:mesobasitarsus 0.88, 6 spines on mesotibial spur. Metafemur stout, less than twice as long as broad.

Fore wing length:width 1.82, with long marginal fringe, the longest fringe setae slightly longer than parastigma, longest fringe:width of fore wing 0.23; parastigma strongly sinuate (Fig. 7 ), discal seta absent; linea calva not present, but a smooth unsculptured area on fore wing extends basally from stigmal vein almost to posterior margin (Figs 7 , 8 ). Fore wing and hind wing with raised surface sculpture (Figs 7 , 8 ); fore wing with two setae on submarginal vein and with setae M1, M2b, and M6 present. A small seta appears to be present in the basal area of the wing, but the location is different from the discal seta in other Signiphoridae . Posterior margin of hind wing rounded (not nearly parallel with anterior margin, Fig. 8 ). Hind wing with sculpture like that of fore wing, fringe slightly longer than that of fore wing, hind wing length:width 4.00, marginal setae:width hind wing 0.67, discal seta present on hind wing below apex of marginal vein.

Metasoma (Figs 11-13 ). Metasomal terga 8 and 9 combined to form a syntergum (Fig. 13 : syn). Terga and sterna with coriaceous sculpture. Male genitalia with divergent digiti, each with 1 apical digital spine (Fig. 12 ), and possibly a pair of median denticles (one median denticle visible in 2010). Subgenital plate (Ms8) deeply emarginate medially (Fig. 11 , Ms8). Metasomal sternum 7 broadly truncate (Fig. 11 , Ms7).

Etymology.

The species name is a noun in genitive case, the gender is feminine. The species is named after SOK’s grandmother, Aziza Meetab. Aziza means “precious” in Arabic, recognizing the precious nature of this fossil.

Figures

Figures 7 - 13. 7 Holotype, wings showing surface sculpture (ssmv: setae submarginal vein, setae M 1 - M 6). (Macropod) 8 paratype, fore wing and hind wing (Leica Z 16 Apo A) 9 holotype, wing venation (Macropod) 10 paratype, legs (fts: foretibial spur) (Macropod) 11 holotype, dorsal metasoma and genitalia (Ms 7: metasomal sternum 7, Ms 8: metasomal sternum 8) (Macropod) 12 Holotype, ventral metasoma and subgenital plate (dg: digitus) (Keyence) 13 Paratype, apex of metasoma, lateral (mfs: mesofemoral spines) (Macropod).

Figures 1 - 6. 1 Whole fossil showing the holotype and paratype (Leica Z 16 Apo A) 2 holotype, dorsal habitus (Macropod) 3 paratype, lateral habitus (Keyence) 4 paratype, head and antennae (anl: anellus) (Keyence) 5 holotype, head and antennae (man: mandible) (Macropod) 6 holotype, mesosoma (Macropod).