Corresponding author: Dagmara Żyła (
Academic editor: R. Blackman
This paper presents a revision of the aphid genus
Żyła D, Homan A, Franielczyk B, Wegierek P (2015) Revised concept of the fossil genus
One aphid family known only from fossils is
This family is highly diverse morphologically, but the simultaneous occurrence of the ovipositor and siphunculi constitutes its most characteristic feature (
The material consisted of 44 aphid fossil specimens borrowed from the collection of the Institute of Palaeontology, Russian Academy of Sciences in Moscow. The fossils were preserved in the form of two imprints – “obverse” and “reverse”, marked as ±. The material was analyzed using standard palaeoentomological research methods (
The imprints were collected from two localities: Baissa, Russia and Bon–Tsagaan, Mongolia. Both of them are Lower Cretaceous deposits.
Baissa is one of the richest deposits and most important localities of fossil insects from the Early Cretaceous. More than 10 000 specimens of insects have been collected from there (
Bon–Tsagan (= Bon–Tsagaan) is one of the richest Mesozoic insect remains deposits in Mongolia, and one of the best known and richest in the world. Numerous outcrops of mudstone and marls are widely distributed in Central Mongolia, south of the recent Lake Bon–Tsagaan–Nur (
1 | Less than seven antennal segments |
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– | Seven antennal segments |
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2 | Secondary rhinaria round and irregular |
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– | Secondary rhinaria annular |
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3 | Siphunculi in the form of short truncate cones |
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– | Siphunculi in form of pores |
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4 | Ovipositor large and well-developed |
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– | Ovipositor rudimentary |
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5 | Cubital veins with separate bases |
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– | Cubital veins leave the main vein Sc + R + M from one poin |
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6 | Vein CuA1 not connected with the main vein Sc + R + M |
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– | Vein CuA1 connected with the main vein Sc + R + M |
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7 | Pterostigma long, at least 5.5 times longer than wide |
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– | Pterostigma short, at most 5 times longer than wide |
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8 | Abdomen with setae |
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– | Abdomen without setae |
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Seven antennal segments. Secondary rhinaria slightly ellipsoidal, large. Siphunculi in the form of short truncate cones. Ovipositor large with valvae I and III well developed.
3559/51, Paleontological Institute, Russian Academy of Sciences, Moscow; Bon–Tsagaan locality (Mongolia); Early Cretaceous (Aptian); alate female
As for genus.
Body (2.49) thick (Figs
Seven antennal segments. Secondary rhinaria slightly ellipsoidal, smaller than secondary rhinaria of
The name is a combination of the Greek word
Neuter.
4210/2623±, Paleontological Institute, Russian Academy of Sciences, Moscow; Baissa locality (Russia); Early Cretaceous; alate female
3064/2107; 3064/2108(2273); 3064/2161(2164); 3064/2165; 3064/2166; 3064/2171(5138); 3064/2181; 3064/2184; 3064/2193(2210); 3064/2203; 3064/2205; 3064/2213±; 3064/2309(2311); 3064/2310(2312); 3064/2313(4846); 3064/2314; 3064/2315(2316); 3064/3978; 3064/4765; 3064/4775; 3064/4816; 3064/4911; 3064/4915; 3064/4916(4922); 3064/4970; 3064/4975; 3064/5031; 3064/5110; 4210/2521±; 4210/2624±; 4210/2625; 4210/2771; 4210/2801±; 4210/2802; 4210/2803
1989/1072; 3064/2160; 3064/2173(4751); 3064/2225; 3064/2276; 3064/2278; 3064/2284; 3064/4825; 3064/4870; 3064/4990; 3064/5023; 3064/5113; 3064/5130a; 4210/2548; 4210/4120±; 4210/4365±; 4210/4629±; 4210/5553±; 4210/5588±; 4210/5590±; 4210/5618±; 4210/5630±; 4210/5654; 4210/5659; 4210/5661; 4210/5665; 4210/5669; 4210/5674; 4210/5675; 4210/6889±; 4210/6893±; 4210/6894±; 4210/6896±; 4210/6899±; 4210/6900±; 4210/6908; 4210/6911; 4210/6912a; 4210/6915; 4210/7577a±; 4210/7577b±; 4210/7580±; 4210/7584±
Bases of cubital veins leaving the main vein at the same point.
Body (1.9–2.7) thick (Figs
The first species of the genus
In the original description of
The composition of the new genus is thus as follows:
Previously the genus
We wish to thank Dr. Dimitrij E. Shcherbakov and Dr. Roman Rakitov from the Palaeontological Institute, Russian Academy of Sciences, Moscow for allowing us to use the specimen and for their help with the SEM photographs. We also want to thank the reviewers for comments that greatly improved the manuscript. We are grateful to Marzena Zmarzły (Department of Zoology, University of Silesia) for the technical assistance, and Peter Senn for kindly checking the English language of the manuscript.