Corresponding author: Ralph S. Peters (
Academic editor: M. Engel
Bläser M, Krogmann L, Peters RS (2015) Two new fossil genera and species of Cerocephalinae (Hymenoptera, Chalcidoidea, Pteromalidae), including the first record from the Eocene. ZooKeys 545: 89–100. doi:
Recent studies (
Terminology follows
parastigma frenal line intertorular prominence
Intertorular area with prominence that can be a carina or tooth-shaped (also referred to as inner antennal process
This key is modified after
1 | Antenna with five funicular segments in females and six funicular segments in males |
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– | Antenna with six funicular segments in females (Fig. |
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2 | Antenna shortened, with all funicular segments transverse; fore wing without a tuft of erect setae on parastigma (apterous species occur) | |
– | Antenna of normal size, with all funicular segments longer than or about as long as wide; fore wing with or without a tuft of erect setae on parastigma |
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3 | Fore wing with a tuft of erect setae on parastigma | |
– | Fore wing without a tuft of erect setae on parastigma (as in Fig. |
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4 | Fore wing disc distinctly pilose (Fig. |
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– | Fore wing disc bare, setae (if present) reduced to setal bases |
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5 | Head, pronotum and mesoscutum sculptured; fore wing without a tuft of erect setae on parastigma |
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– | Head dorsally and mesoscutum entirely smooth and polished; pronotum usually polished but sometimes partly sculptured; fore wing with or without a tuft of erect setae on parastigma |
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6 | Mandibles enlarged and conspicuous, at least 1/3 as long as head capsule |
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– | Mandibles of normal shape and dimensions, less than 1/3 as long as head capsule |
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7 | Mandibles without a basal process | |
– | Mandibles with a basal process |
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8 | Mandibles with two distinct teeth | |
– | Mandibles with three distinct teeth | |
9 | Antenna inserted at level of ventral margin of eye | |
– | Antenna inserted much higher than ventral margin of eye | |
10 | Mandible elongate and conspicuous, 1/3 to 3/4 as long as head capsule |
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– | Mandible of normal size, far less than 1/3 as long as head capsule |
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11 | Head with row of conspicuously elongate setae extending dorsally from the lower facial process; fore wing without a tuft of erect setae on parastigma | |
– | Head without a row of conspicuously elongate setae; fore wing with or without a tuft of erect setae on parastigma |
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12 | Mandible two-dentate; fore wing with a tuft of erect setae on parastigma | |
– | Mandible four-dentate; fore wing without a tuft of erect setae on parastigma | |
13 | Antenna inserted distinctly below level of ventral margin of eye; head in dorsal view parallel-sided | |
– | Antenna inserted at or slightly below level of ventral margin of eye; head in dorsal view not parallel-sided |
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14 | Fore wing with a tuft of erect setae on parastigma |
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– | Fore wing without a tuft of erect setae on parastigma |
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15 | Antenna with all funicular segments transverse, i.e., shorter than wide; propodeum with median carina | |
– | Antenna with all funicular segments longer than wide or at least as long as wide; propodeum without median carina | |
16 | Antenna with all funicular segments longer than wide, cylindrical, almost parallel-sided | |
– | Funicular segments different; most funicular segments shorter than wide or as long as wide |
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17 | Face deeply impressed, with long setae lateral to the impression of face; intertorular prominence nail-like and positioned distinctly above toruli (Fig. |
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– | Face convex, without long setae lateral to the impression of face; intertorular prominence variable in shape but never nail-like and positioned at level of or below toruli |
inner antennal process parastigma
Female holotype, preserved in Eocene Baltic amber (56-34 Ma). Holotype deposited in the amber collection of the State Museum of Natural History, SMNS collection number BB-2815.
Funicle of female 6-segmented with funicular segments 3-6 distinctly transverse, i.e., shorter than wide (Fig.
The generic name
See genus.
Female: total body length 1.62 mm; length of head 0.32 mm, of mesosoma 0.64 mm, of metasoma 0.86 mm. Body without metallic luster.
Following the latest available identification key of
Named after Laila and Raban Ohlhoff, the grandchildren of the private donor.
Female holotype, preserved in Lower Miocene Dominican amber (20-15 Ma). Holotype deposited in the amber collection of the Senckenberg Forschungsinstitut und Naturmuseum Frankfurt am Main, Germany, collection number SMF Be 2395.
Funicle of female 6-segmented and clavate with F1–F2 longer than wide and F3–F6 wider than long and distally broadening; scape elongate (1/3 of total antennal length) (Fig.
The first letters of the generic name
See genus.
Female: total body length 2.07 mm; length of mesosoma 0.92 mm, of metasoma 1.02 mm. Body without metallic luster.
The two genera that are most similar to
The name
Since both fossils were found without syninclusions (in contrast to
Although all three known fossils are expected to be parasitoids of endophytic beetles, there are already hints of differential host specialization. The ovipositor of
All three known cerocephaline fossils are females. This is most likely connected to the association with wood-boring beetles, which represent the vast majority of known cerocephaline hosts. Females visit trees for oviposition and have a much higher chance of being trapped in resin than males. Members of the family
The description of
We are grateful to Rainer Ohlhoff (Eggenstein-Leopoldshafen) for the donation of the female holotype of