Corresponding author: Victor H. Gonzalez (
Academic editor: Michael Ohl
A new species of the extinct bee genus
The Eocene was the last epoch harboring a truly disparate bee fauna relative to the composition of forms we are so familiar with in today’s ecosystems. Following the Eocene-Oligocene transition the bee fauna began to look relatively modern at least in terms of the general appearance of the tribes, genera, and subgenera comprising the diversity in the latest Paleogene and Neogene periods. However, from the Eocene and earlier epochs we find regularly taxa that harbor unique combinations of traits that render them challenging to fit amongst their modern counterparts even at higher taxonomic levels, alongside otherwise more modern forms (
Herein we describe a recently recognized new species of the Eocene bee genus
Currently included species in
Species | References |
---|---|
Baltic Amber (Lutetian) | |
|
|
|
|
|
|
Present study | |
Rovno Amber (Bartonian-Priabonian?) | |
|
While
Morphological terminology follows that of
♀, AMNH Ba-JVe-161, Baltic amber, middle Eocene (Lutetian). Deposited in the Amber Fossil Collection, Division of Invertebrate Zoology (Entomology), American Museum of Natural History, New York.
♀, on curved edge in same amber piece as holotype and with same repository (
Photograph of majority of amber piece (middle Eocene, Baltic amber) indicating relative positions of two individuals of
This species resembles
Integument in general smooth and shiny between punctures, weakly imbricate laterally on terga. Outer surface of mandible with minute punctures separated by a puncture width or less. Frons with small punctures separated by 1–1.5 times a puncture width, punctures becoming denser towards vertex. Pronotum laterally with minute punctures separated by a puncture width or less. Mesoscutum with small punctures separated by 1–2 times a puncture width (
Photomicrographs of
Color apparently brown, without maculations. Wing membrane hyaline; veins strong and dark brown.
Face with minute, appressed, simple setae not obscuring integument. Mesoscutum and mesoscutellum with scattered, short, simple setae. Mesepisternum with scattered, erect, longer setae (0.5 times median ocellar diameter) than on mesoscutum. Basal area of propodeum without pubescence; lateral and posterior surfaces with minute, sparse setae (integument largely visible among setae). Legs in general with short, scattered, minutely-branched setae (
The specific epithet is taken from Phaeton and treated as a noun in apposition. In Greek mythology Phaeton died when he tried to drive the chariot of the sun across the sky. Phaeton’s sisters wept and their tears turned to amber.
The supraclypeus, clypeus, and mandibles are obscured by dense
(updated from
1 | Forewing 2rs-m strongly and doubly arcuate, thus second submarginal cell more strongly produced toward wing apex along posterior margin; medioapical margin of clypeus straight (shape of clypeus unknown in |
2 |
– | Forewing 2rs-m relatively straight and therefore second submarginal cell not more strongly produced toward wing apex along posterior margin; medioapical margin of clypeus gently convex | |
2 | Forewing basal vein confluent with cu-a; first submarginal cell shorter than second submarginal cell | 3 |
– | Forewing basal vein distad cu-a; first submarginal cell longer than second submarginal cell | |
3 | Mesepisternum impunctate laterally; metasomal terga faintly imbricate | 4 |
– | Mesepisternum with coarse, faint punctures laterally; metasomal terga with small, scattered punctures | 5 |
4 | Propodeal setae long, erect, and branched; tarsal setae fuscous; gena tapering in width from widest above to narrower below | |
– | Propodeal setae scattered, short, and simple; tarsal setae white or off-white; gena of relatively equal width along its length | |
5 | Metepisternum punctate; body pubescence distinctly short and sparse | |
– | Metepisternum impunctate; body pubescence of moderate length, not distinctly short and sparse |
We are grateful to D.A. Grimaldi for bringing this material to our attention and permitting its study, to I.A. Hinojosa-Díaz for assistance with microphotography, and to two anonymous reviewers for comments on the manuscript. This is a contribution of the Division of Entomology, University of Kansas Natural History Museum.