New dustywings (Neuroptera, Coniopterygidae) from mid-Cretaceous amber of Myanmar reveal spectacular diversity.

Two new genera and species of Coniopterygidae (Neuroptera) are described and illustrated from mid Cretaceous (Cenomanian) amber of Myanmar. Mulleroconishyalina gen. n. et sp. n., attributed to the Coniopteryginae, bears a unique combination of venation characters and an abdomen without plicatures. The second new genus, attributed to the Aleuropteryginae, i.e. Palaeoconisazari gen. n. et sp. n., displays a unique pattern of crossveins 1m-cua and 2mp2-cua, with the latter crossing the pigmented spot. A check-list of all fossil genera and species of Coniopterygidae is provided.

Introduction

is one of few insect orders with a remarkably rich fossil history and spectacular diversity of morphotypes during the Mesozoic. The two early Permian families and are currently considered as the stem groups of the clade ( + ) (Prokop et al. 2015; Engel et al. 2018). Current views of phylogeny based on molecular and morphology datasets support the family as a sister group to comprising all remaining recent families of (Winterton et al. 2010; Wang et al. 2017; Winterton et al. 2017, 2018; Randolf et al. 2017; Engel et al. 2018).

(dustywings) are an unusual family of with minute body-size, strongly reduced venation and, especially, wings covered by a waxy secretion. Dustywings are predators with larvae and adults feeding on mites, aphids, and sternorrhynchans. Currently, the family comprises 571 species assigned to 23 genera (Engel et al. 2018). They are divided into the three Recent subfamilies: , , and , along with a single fossil one, (Liu and Lu 2017). This current subdivision into four subfamilies needs to be tested by a global phylogenetic analysis of the fossil and extant taxa of this family, but it is out of the scope of the present paper. Meinander (1975) described the oldest assigned to from the Upper Jurassic of Karatau in Kazakhstan, while the family is supposed to have diverged from the other during the Late Permian (Winterton et al. 2018). However, the record of dustywings is mainly known from amber inclusions of the following localities (see Table 1): Lower Cretaceous (Lebanon – Hammana (Neocomian), Spain – Cantabria (Albian), France – Charente – Maritime (Albian); Upper Cretaceous (Myanmar – Hukawng Valley (Cenomanian), U.S.A. – New Jersey, (Turonian), Russia – Taimyr Peninsula, (Cenomanian to Santonian), Canada – Alberta (Campanian); Eocene – India – Gujarat (Ypresian), France – Oise, Le Quesnoys (Ypresian), Baltic (Late Eocene), Ukraine – Rovno (Late Eocene); and Miocene – Dominican Republic (Burdigalian). For a long time, the Late Cretaceous amber from New Jersey was known for its high richness of neuropteran diversity (Grimaldi 2000). However, due to extensive sampling of Burmese amber during last decades it was revealed that it contains a surprisingly diverse and abundant neuropteran fauna currently attributed to 21 families, including (Grimaldi et al. 2002; Makarkin 2016; Ross 2018). Despite the fact, that the inclusions of dustywings in Burmese amber are considerably rare, six species assigned to five genera have been described so far (Ross 2018). The majority of assigned genera belong to the subfamily . The subfamily has only two recorded genera and is still without any fossil evidence (Perrichot et al. 2014; Engel 2004, 2016; Makarkin 2016; Liu and Lu 2017, see Table 1).

Table 1.

List of extinct genera and species of .

MESOZOIC
JURASSIC
Subfamily Aleuropteryginae
Juraconiopteryx Meinander, 1975	Callovian/Oxfordian; Kazakhstan
†J.zherichini Meinander, 1975
CRETACEOUS
Subfamily Aleuropteryginae
Achlyoconis Engel, 2016	Cenomanian; Myanmar
†A.heptatrichia Engel, 2016
Alboconis Nel et al., 2005	Albian; France
†A.cretacica Nel et al., 2005
Apoglaesoconis Grimaldi, 2000	Turonian; U.S.A.
†A.ackermani Grimaldi, 2000
†A.cherylae Engel, 2002	Turonian; U.S.A.
†A.luzzii Grimaldi, 2000	Turonian; U.S.A.
†A.swolenskyi Grimaldi, 2000	Turonian; U.S.A.
Garnaconis Perrichot & Nel in Perrichot et al. 2014	Turonian; France
†G.dupeorum Perrichot & Nel, 2014
Glaesoconis Meinander, 1975	Cenomanian; Myanmar
†G.baliopteryx Engel, 2004
†G.cretica Meinander, 1975	Santonian; Russia
†G.nearctica Grimaldi, 2000	Turonian; U.S.A
†G.popovi Makarkin & Perkovsky, 2017	Santonian; Russia
Libanoconis Engel, 2002	Barremian; Lebanon
†L.fadiacra Whalley, 1980
†L.siberica Makarkin & Perkovsky, 2019	Cenomanian; Russia
Palaeoconis Ružičková, Nel & Prokop, n. gen.	Cenomanian, Myanmar
†P.azari Ružičková, Nel & Prokop, n. sp.
Subfamily Coniopteryginae
Jurasiatypus Kaddumi, 2005	Albian; Jordan
†J.cretatus Kaddumi, 2005
Libanosemidalis Azar et al. 2000	Barremian; Lebanon
†L.hammanaensis Azar et al. 2000
Mulleroconis Ružičková, Nel & Prokop, n. gen.	Cenomanian, Myanmar
†M.hyalina Ružičková, Nel & Prokop, n. sp.
Paranimboa Engel, 2016	Cenomanian; Myanmar
†P.litotes Engel, 2016
†P.groehni Sziráki, 2016	Cenomanian; Myanmar
Phtanoconis Engel, 2004	Cenomanian; Myanmar
†P.burmitica Engel, 2004
Subfamily Cretaconiopteryginae
Cretaconiopteryx Liu & Lu, 2017	Cenomanian; Myanmar
†C.grandis Liu & Lu, 2017
CENOZOIC
Subfamily Aleuropteryginae
Archiconiocompsa Enderlein, 1910	Priabonian; Russia
†A.prisca Enderlein, 1910
Archiconis Enderlein, 1930	Priabonian; Russia
†A.electrica Enderlein, 1930
Geroconiocompsa Engel, 2010	Priabonian; Russia
†G.ostara Engel, 2010
Hemisemidalis Meinander, 1972	Priabonian; Poland
†H.kulickae Dobosz & Krzemiński, 2000
Neoconis Enderlein, 1930	Burdigalian/Langhian; Dominican Republic
†N.paleocaribis Grimaldi & Engel, 2013
Pararchiconis Nel, 1991	Rupelian; France
†P.quievreuxi Nel, 1991
Spiloconis Enderlein, 1907	Burdigalian/Langhian; Dominican Republic
†S.glaesaria Meinander, 1998
†S.oediloma Engel & Grimaldi, 2007	Burdigalian/Langhian; Dominican Republic
†S.eominuta Grimaldi & Engel, 2013	Ypresian; India
Subfamily Coniopteryginae
Coniopteryx Curtis, 1834	Burdigalian/Langhian; Dominican Republic
†C.antiquua Engel & Grimaldi, 2007
†C.timidus Hagen, 1856	Priabonian; Poland
Neosemidalis Enderlein, 1930	Holocene, Benin
†N.enderleini Meunier, 1910
Parasemidalis Enderlein, 1905	Ypresian; France
†P.eocenica Nel et al., 2005
†P.sharovi Meinander, 1975	Priabonian; Russia
Semidalis Enderlein, 1905	Priabonian; Russia
†S.fritschi Enderlein, 1930

Herein we report two new genera and species of and from the Cenomanian amber of Myanmar. These new taxa are based on morphological characters with special attention to the wing venation and structure of the antennae.

Material and methods

All herein examined specimens are preserved in Burmese amber recovered from the deposits in northern Myanmar (Hukawng Valley, Kachin) (Cruickshank and Ko 2003; Grimaldi and Ross 2017). The age of these fossiliferous layers was previously considered as Late Albian or Early Cenomanian on the basis of palynomorphs (Cruickshank and Ko 2003), and recently confirmed as the lowermost Cenomanian (98.79 ± 0.62 Ma) by radiometric analysis of zircons (Shi et al. 2012). The record from this locality has recently been reviewed by Grimaldi and Ross (2017). Contemporary investigations on various insect lineages has emphasized the tremendous diversity and disparity of the entomofauna (e.g., Grimaldi and Ross 2017), as well as its impact on an understanding of changes in Late Cretaceous biotas along with the Late Cretaceous-Paleogene faunal turnover, such as replacement by specialized angiosperm pollinators and evidence of remarkable parasitoid strategies (e.g., Grimaldi et al. 2002; Batelka et al. 2016, 2018, in press; Huang et al. 2016; Makarkin 2016).

The material was studied with Leica MZ12.5 stereomicroscope and Olympus BX40 microscope, and photographed using a Canon D550 digital camera mounted on a tripod and coupled with a MP-E 65 mm macro-lens, or attached to an Olympus BX40. The original photographs were processed using Adobe Photoshop CS4, while some images we prepared a series of focal layers which were them combined using the focus-stacking software packages Helicon Focus Pro or Zerene Stacker. The specimens reported herein are originally from the private collection of Patrick Müller, Käshofen, Germany (accession numbers abbreviated as BUB – Burmese Bernstein). All type specimens are deposited in the Museum für Naturkunde, Berlin.

Terminology of wing venation nomenclature and interpretation of veins follow Breitkreuz et al. (2017) who studied the wing venation and tracheation across the neuropteran families. Abbreviations of longitudinal veins: C – costa, ScP – subcosta posterior, R – radius, RA/ RP – radius anterior/ posterior, M – media, MA/ MP – media anterior/ posterior, Cu – cubitus, CuA/CuP – cubitus anterior/ posterior, A – anal vein.

Systematics

Order Linnaeus, 1758

Family Burmeister, 1839

Subfamily Burmeister, 1839

gen. n.

http://zoobank.org/CC3D1487-6C5F-4998-BDF4-F52D6E8731BE

Type species.

gen. et. sp. n.

Diagnosis.

Forewing hyaline; one straight crossvein in proximal part of costal area; ScP2 diverges obliquely from ScP1; crossvein ra-rp absent; crossvein rp-ma undulated; M without macrosetae reaching posterior wing margin with two branches; crossvein cua-cup straight and aligned with 2cup-a1.

Etymology.

The generic name is a combination collector’s surname (Müller) and the Greek ‘conis’ meaning dust. The generic name is feminine in gender.

gen. et. sp. n.

http://zoobank.org/F8CCB036-E564-4C4A-94E2-3C50CD92C8E6

Figures 1 , 2

Figure 1.

gen. et. sp. n., holotype BUB 2907. A Drawing of left fore wing B drawing of left hindwing. Scale bar: 100 µm.

Figure 2.

gen. et. sp. n. holotype BUB 2907. A Habitus dorsally B wing venation – detail. Scale bar: 100 µm.

Holotype.

BUB 2907; lowermost Cenomanian amber (Shi et al. 2012); Myanmar, Kachin, Hukawng Valley; preserved in a polished, transparent yellow piece of amber (5.68 × 5.00 × 1.09 mm), deposited in the Museum für Naturkunde, Berlin (ex. coll. Patrick Müller). The holotype is in amber syninclusion with one representative of the .

The specific epithet is after the hyaline forewing membrane.

As for the genus (vide supra).

Description.

Male. Body length ca. 1.17 mm (measured from tip of head to tip of genitalia). Head poorly preserved, only the last three segments of one maxillary palp are visible and the terminal segment is distinctly broader and longer than two remaining. Length of terminal palpomere ca. 0.09 mm. Thorax length ca. 0.28 mm.

Forewing ca. 1.46 mm long, ca. 0.65 mm wide; ScP1 long and parallel to costal margin; Scp2 present; division of R into RA and RP at about one-third wing length; RA simple distally connected to ScP2, parallel to ScP1; RP forked; rp-ma markedly sinuate, near the fork RP1 and RP2, connected to MA; stem of M running close to stem of R, briefly connecting each other, M distally branched into MA and MP, without stiff setae; crossveins 1m–cua and 2m-cua present, 1m–cua near the base of wing, between M and CuA, 2m-cua slightly sinuate, between M and CuA, situated slightly behind midwing; CuP separated from CuA near the base of wing; cua-cup present, located at level of division veins RA and RP; crossveins 1cup-a1 and 2cup-a1 present, 1cup-a1 connected to CuP near to fork of CuA and CuP, 2cup-a1 almost aligned with cua-cup; A1 and A2 clearly connected near the base of wing, a1-a2 present. Hindwing ca. 1.25 mm long, ca. 0.55 mm wide with venation very similar to forewing, differing in position of sinuate crossvein rp2-ma; crossvein m-cua partially preserved and basal part of wing with hardly recognizable venation pattern. Legs slender; fore femora (only left femur is visible) a bit shorter and wider than femora of second and third pair of legs; tibias covered with setae; tarsi five-segmented; first tarsomere distinctly longer than remaining tarsomeres; fifth tarsomere elongated with two apical claws. Abdomen large, length 0.64 mm, width 0.22 mm, including genitalia, with widest part approximately in middle of its length, greatly tapering to narrow apical segments; abdominal plicatures absent. Genital structures hardly discernible, presumably below projection of gonarcus, ultimate apices of parameres visible from dorsal view.

Discussion.

gen. n. can be attributed to the based on the following combination of forewing characters: M is bifurcate (a trait occurring in almost all members of this subfamily) (Makarkin and Perkovsky 2019), the absence of two macrosetae on the media, the presence of only one crossvein between RP and M (in our species between RP and MA), and the absence of the abdominal plicatures. The Mesozoic record of currently comprises four genera, i.e. Kaddumi, 2005; Azar et al. 2000; Engel, 2016 and Engel, 2004 (see list below). All four genera share the presence of two basal crossveins in the costal space, unlike gen. n. In addition, , and differ from gen. n. in the presence of one crossvein between RA (ScP2) and RP. , described from the Lower Cretaceous amber of Lebanon, differs from gen. n. in the presence of rp2-ma while in gen. n. the crossvein rp-ma is shifted proximally, followed by a single crossvein between M and CuA and the presence of crossvein a2 connecting A2 and the hind margin of the wing (Azar et al. 2000). and are both known from the Cenomanian amber of Myanmar (Engel 2016; Sziráki 2016, 2017). has a simple RP unlike in gen. n. where the RP has two terminal branches. Furthermore, it differs in the position of the crossvein between RP and M and in the position of crossvein 1cup-a1 which is branching off from point where Cu is divided into CuA and CuP and in the presence of crossvein a2 (Engel 2016; Sziráki 2016, 2017).

and both differ from gen. n. in the presence of a single crossvein between M and CuA and in the complete absence of crossveins between CuA and CuP, CuP and A1, as well as between A1 and A2. Moreover, differs from gen. n. in the absence of a crossvein between RP and M (Engel 2004). was based on single found specimen (holotype) from the Lower Cretaceous amber of the Kurnub in Jordan (Kaddumi 2005). It differs from gen. n. in the position of the crossvein between RP2 and MA (Kaddumi 2005).

Subfamily Enderlein, 1905

http://zoobank.org/D2E45555-5EB3-4C36-A9D9-D448DD3D6675

gen. et. sp. n.

Antennae with 19 flagellomeres. Forewing with three pigmented spots; two crossveins present in apical part of costal area. Crossvein rp2-ma approximately as long as basal abscissa of RP2. Media with one macroseta, ending with three terminal branches. Crossveins 1m-cua, 2mp2-cua and a1 present. Abdomen with discernible plicatures on sternites II-IV.

The generic name is a combination of Palaeo and the suffix conis meaning dust.

gen. et. sp. n.

http://zoobank.org/D2FC29B5-FFBE-42C7-AD0B-FD637B5011E7

Figures 3 , 4

Figure 3.

gen. et sp. n., holotype BUB 2914. A Drawing of right fore wing B drawing of left hindwing. Scale bars: 100 µm.

Figure 4.

gen. et sp. n., holotype BUB 2914. A Habitus lateral view B wing venation and spots C detail of forewing venation with stiff seta on vein M D head from dorso-lateral view showing antennae, terminal segment of maxillary palp and eye. Scale bars: 500µm (A, B); not in scale: (C); 50 µm (D).

BUB 2914; lowermost Cenomanian amber (Shi et al. 2012); Myanmar, Kachin, Hukawng Valley; preserved in a polished, transparent yellow piece of amber (9.18 × 6.77 × 2.18 mm), deposited in the Museum für Naturkunde, Berlin (ex. coll. Patrick Müller). The amber piece contains also one syninclusion of an imago of .

The specific epithet honors Prof. Dany Azar (Lebanese University, Fanar, Lebanon), friend and colleague of AN and JP and worldwide known palaeoentomologist.

As for the genus (vide supra).

Male. Body length ca. 1.93 mm (measured from tip of head to tip of genitalia). Head hypognathous, ca. 0.34 mm. Compound eyes well developed, 0.22 mm x 0.14 mm (from lateral view). Antennae 21-segmented (with 19 flagellomeres), scape and pedicel stouter, longer and broader than flagellomeres, first flagellomere longer and wider than remaining flagellomeres, flagellomeres subquadrate, nearly as long as wide, terminal flagellomere conical. Maxillary palps five-segmented, fifth segment distinctly larger than other palpomeres, length of fifth segment ca. 0.12 mm. Labial palps three-segmented, third segment larger than remaining. Thorax well developed. Prothorax narrower and overall smaller than meso- and metathorax.

Forewing ca. 2.19 mm long, ca. 0.93 mm wide; two distinct apical crossveins in costal area; division of ScP1 and ScP2 0.31 mm from wing apex; R branching into RA and RP 0.48 mm from wing base; RA simple, distally ending connecting with branch of ScP2; RP branched into RP1 and RP2; ra-rp1 present; first spot on basal abscissa of RP2 near RP1 (near place where is RP forked); crossvein rp-m oblique crossing dark spot about mid-length; M with three branches (MA, MP1 and MP2), M with one stiff seta near crossvein rp-m (Figs 3A, 4C); crossvein rp2-ma relatively long, approximately as long as basal abscissa of RP2; crossvein 1m–cua near rp-m, but not aligned; crossvein 2mp2-cua near to wing apex, with third spot over it; crossveins cua-cup and a1 present. Hindwing ca. 2.12 mm long, ca. 0.92 mm wide; venation pattern very similar to forewing with exception of only single crossvein between C and ScP, wing membrane in hindwing hyaline without any pigmented spots; crossveins ra-rp1 and rp2-ma present; basal part of hindwing without clearly recognizable venation.

Legs long and slender; femora covered with fine and sparse setae; tibiae covered with stiff and dense setae; tarsi five-segmented, first tarsomere distinctly longer than remaining tarsomeres, terminal tarsomere elongated ending with two claws, tarsi covered with fine dense setae. Abdomen large and broad, tapered to the end (visible from lateral view only); plicatures present on sternites II-IV; length of abdomen including genitalia 1.22 mm, width 0.54 mm. Structures of external genitalia hardly discernible with exception of domed and well-sclerotized ectoproct in lateral view and the caudal projection of gonarcus below.

gen. n. can be attributed to the based on the presence of two crossveins between RP and M and also the presence of plicatures on abdominal sternites II-IV. Nevertheless, Zimmermann et al. (2009) considered this last character as a symplesiomorphy of the . However, does not possess in the forewings two long stiff setae on M, which is the diagnostic character for . In contrast to this, the absence of these setae on the media and the presence of three-branched media are considered as plesiomorphic characters typical for Mesozoic (Engel 2002). In addition, possesses in forewing crossvein a1 connecting A1 to posterior wing margin. According to Engel (2016) the subfamily contains 14 genera (Mesozoic and Cenozoic), i.e., Engel, 2016; Nel et al., 2005; Grimaldi, 2000; Enderlein, 1910; Enderlein, 1930; Perrichot and Nel in Perrichot et al., 2014; Engel, 2010; Meinander, 1975; Meinander, 1972; Meinander, 1975; Engel, 2002; Enderlein, 1930; Nel, 1991, and Enderlein, 1907.

, , , , and share the presence of two distinct basal crossveins in the costal area, and in addition and share the presence of crossvein a1–a2, vein A2 and crossvein a2. These traits separate these genera from gen. n. In addition, described from the Lower Cretaceous Myanmar amber differs from gen. n. by a distinctly shorter crossvein rp2-ma , single crossvein m–cua, presence of A2 and four pigmented spots on wing membrane instead of three in (Engel 2004). , known from the Lower Cretaceous amber of Lebanon, differs from gen. n. in the positions of crossveins between M and CuA (1m–cua is near to wing base; 2m–cua approximately at mid-length of wing), and lack pigmented spots on membrane (Engel 2002; Nel et al. 2004). described from the Upper Cretaceous amber of northern Myanmar differs from gen. n. in the presence of seven thickenings with specialized setae on M, positions of crossveins 1m-cua and 2m-cua, presence of a single crossvein between CuP and A1, and four pigmented spots (Engel 2016). , described from the Lower Cretaceous French amber, differs from gen. n. by a two branched media bearing two long setae, crossvein between CuA and R+M, and two crossveins between CuP and A1 (Nel et al. 2004). and share the following features such as M with two long setae, presence of crossveins cup–a1; a1–a2, vein A2 and absence of pigmented spots on wing membrane. , from the Late Cretaceous amber of New Jersey, differs from gen. n. by one crossvein between RP and M, branches RP2 and MA forming a cross, and by a single crossvein between M and CuA (Engel 2002). , from the Late Cretaceous amber of Vendée in northwestern France, differs from gen. n. in the remote positions of separated transverse ScP2 and crossvein between RA+ScP2 and RP1 (see Fig. 3), unlike both being aligned in . gen. n. bears two crossveins beween RP and M, a two-branched media with setae instead of only one crossvein between RP2 and MA and a three-branched media without setae in (Perrichot et al. 2014). , Upper Jurassic of Kazakhstan, represents the oldest record of . Wing venation of is very poorly preserved (Meinander 1975), therefore we are unable to make a reliable comparison with .

Conclusion

In this contribution we extended our knowledge on past diversity of . Two new genera and species assigned to the two subfamilies and are herein described and illustrated from the Early Cenomanian amber of Myanmar. These new taxa are established mainly on the basis of wing venation patterns, number of antennal flagellomeres along with other body structures like abdominal plicatures. Our research uncovers spectacular diversity of in mid-Cretaceous ecosystems and in the same time supports the antiquity of this group that seems to have had a remarkable evolutionary stasis since the mid-Cretaceous.