Colemanus keeleyorum Fisher, 2015

Fisher, J. Ray, Tucker, Erika M. & Sharkey, Michael J., 2015, Colemanus keeleyorum (Braconidae, Ichneutinae s. l.): a new genus and species of Eocene wasp from the Green River Formation of western North America, Journal of Hymenoptera Research 44, pp. 57-67 : 61-64

Colemanus keeleyorum Fisher sp. n.

Figs 1 , 2

Diagnosis.

Colemanus keeleyorum can be distinguished from C. contortus (Brues, 1933) (new combination; see below) by having curved (RS+M)a and 2RS veins in the fore wing (straight in C. contortus ). Also, C. keeleyorum is only known from the western United States (Eocene) and C. contortus is only known from the Baltic region (lower Oligocene).

Description.

Holotype (n = 1): body length 9 mm (estimated due to incomplete metasoma); sex unknown. Head (Fig. 1A ) 1.4 mm long and 1.7 mm wide. Antenna 7.2 mm long with 33-34 flagellomeres. Mesosoma (Figs 1B , 2A ) 3.8 mm long and 3.3 mm wide; robust and heavily sculptured; notauli deeply crenulate; scutellum with crenulate depression medio-posteriorly; side of scutellum deeply hollowed with crenulate carinae and bordered by prominent carinae; metanotum with median, raised, rectangular tubercle having radiating carinae; scutellar sulcus with carinae; propodeum with areolate sculpturing. Wings (Figs 1A,C , 2B ) with last abscissa of fore wing radial sector (3RSb) recurved and tubular as it reaches the wing margin; (RS+M)b short, nearly vertical; 1cu-a originating far distal to M and curving downward, thus not angling toward wing apex; fore wing M curved; tubular portion of 1a long; C+SC and R closely fused; second abscissa of RS strongly curved; parastigma well-developed; hind wing M+Cu longer than first abscissa of M; hind wing r-crossvein absent; hind wing M+Cu in posterior half of wing; 1A strongly developed.

Biology.

Unknown. However, placement within Proteropini is suggestive of shared biology, koinobiont endoparasitoids of sawflies.

Remarks.

Wings, antennae, and dorsal mesosoma are overall well-preserved; metasoma and legs either did not completely fossilize or are obscured by the rock matrix; head is crushed.

Etymology.

Named for Dr. Jack and Flo Keeley, who, together with their daughter and her husband (first author’s mother & father), were largely responsible for the first author’s pursuit of the natural sciences.

Material examined.

HOLOTYPE: USA, Colorado, Piceance Creek Basin, Parachute Member, 2005. Deposited with the David Kohls collection in the Smithsonian Institution, Museum of Natural History, Washington D.C.

Figures

Figure 1. Fossil of Colemanus keeleyorum sp. n.: A whole fossil B close-up of mesosoma C close-up of left pterostigma, note preserved microtrichia.

Figure 2. Reconstructions of Colemanus keeleyorum sp. n.: A dorsal mesosoma, note heavy sculpturing B wings, note last abscissa of forewing radial sector (3 RSb) is recurved.