Abrotoxyela, Gao, Taiping, Ren, Dong & Shih, Chungkun, 2009

Gao, Taiping, Ren, Dong & Shih, Chungkun, 2009, Abrotoxyela gen. nov. (Insecta, Hymenoptera, Xyelidae) from the Middle Jurassic of Inner Mongolia, China, Zootaxa 2094, pp. 52-59 : 53

Genus Abrotoxyela gen. nov.

Type species: Abrotoxyela lepida sp. nov.

Diagnosis: Forewing with Sc triple-branched and the first branch intersecting with C nearly 1/4 of the length; Sc terminating at C distal to the origin of Rs; Sc2 short, inclining toward basal of wings, intersecting R before the origin of Rs; basal section of Rs approximately as long as that of M. Eyes extraordinarily large and the third segment of antenna 2.5 times as long as the rest flagellomeres. Ovipositor short.

Etymology: The generic name is a combination of Greek prefix abrot- referring to the pretty and gorgeous species included in this genus, and ‘ xyela ’, the name of one of the genera included in Xyelidae . The gender is feminine.

Species included: The type species and A. multiciliata sp. nov.

Comparison: More than 20 genera of this subfamily have been reported up to date ( Abe & Smith, 1991; Rasnitsyn, 1993; Zhang & Zhang, 2000), and 9 of them have been recorded in China ( Zhang & Zhang, 2000; Gao & Ren, 2008). Rasnitsyn compiled a detailed key to the known genera of this family ( Rasnitsyn, 1969) and a key to the known taxa of subfamily Macroxyelinae in Northeastern China was given by Zhang Haichun and Zhang Junfeng ( Zhang & Zhang, 2000).

Abrotoxyela can be assigned to the subfamily Macroxyelinae based on its complex venation, very long 3rd segment of antennae (nearly 2.5 times as remained flagellomeres), and short ovipositor. Within this subfamily, the new genus is similar to Xyelites Rasnitsyn, 1966 , in forewing with Sc triple-branched and pterostigma fully sclerotized, but the new genus can be differentiated from Xyelites by the following characters: Sc terminates at C distal to the origin of Rs and length of basal section of Rs approximately equals that of M. The triple-branched vein Sc is a unique character which distinctly differentiates Abrotoxyela from other Xyelidae .