Research Article
Print
Research Article
Four new species of hangingflies (Insecta, Mecoptera, Bittacidae) from the Middle Jurassic of northeastern China
expand article infoSulin Liu‡, ChungKun Shih‡, Dong Ren‡
‡ Capital Normal University, Beijing, China

Corresponding author: Sulin Liu ( liusulinemma@163.com )

Academic editor: Michael S. Engel
© 2014 Sulin Liu, ChungKun Shih, Dong Ren.
This is an open access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License (CC BY 4.0), which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original author and source are credited.
Citation: Liu S-L, Shih C-K, Ren D (2014) Four new species of hangingflies (Insecta, Mecoptera, Bittacidae) from the Middle Jurassic of northeastern China. ZooKeys 466: 77-94. https://doi.org/10.3897/zookeys.466.8047
ZooBank: urn:lsid:zoobank.org:pub:19C20324-B7A5-48EB-BBA4-5D849697EA23
Open Access

Abstract

Two new species of Mongolbittacus Petrulevičius, Huang & Ren, 2007, M. speciosus sp. n. and M. oligophlebius sp. n., and two new species of Exilibittacus Yang, Ren & Shih, 2012, E. foliaceus sp. n. and E. plagioneurus sp. n., in the family Bittacidae, are described and illustrated based on five well-preserved fossil specimens. These specimens were collected from the late Middle Jurassic Jiulongshan Formation of Daohugou, Inner Mongolia, China. These new findings enhance our understanding of the morphological characters of early hangingflies and highlight the diversity of bittacids in the Mid Mesozoic ecosystems.

Keywords

Mongolbittacus , Exilibittacus , Jiulongshan Formation, Daohugou, Insect fossil

Introduction

Bittacidae, a large family of Mecoptera commonly called hangingflies, live mainly in the temperate or warm tropical climates. The fifth tarsomere of bittacids can be folded against the fourth with the only one claw at pretarsus (Petrulevičius et al. 2007). Since this special tarsi structure is shared by a sister group of Cimbrophlebiidae (Archibald 2009; Yang et al. 2012a), it is suggested that this morphological character may be an apomorphy. So far, there are 16 extant genera with about 270 described extant species (Krzemiński 2007; Yang et al. 2012b). For fossil records, there are 28 genera comprising 52 species as summarized by Li and Ren (2009b). Since then, two genera, Decoribittacus Li & Ren, 2009 and Exilibittacus Yang, Ren & Shih, 2012, with three species have been described (Li et al. 2009a, Yang et al. 2012b). In addition, up to date, about 20 genera have been described from the Jurassic (Handlirsch 1906, 1939; Ansorge 1993; Tillyard 1933; Ren 1993, 1997; Novokshonov 1993a, 1993b, 1997; Petrulevičius et al. 2007; Li et al. 2008, 2009a; Yang et al. 2012a, 2012b). The age distribution for these fossil genera suggests that the broadest diversity of Bittacidae occurred during the Jurassic, and the earliest fossil record of Bittacidae is Archebittacus exilis Riek, 1955 from the Upper Triassic of Mt. Crosby, Australia (Riek 1955).

Until now, 11 fossil genera of Bittacidae from the late Middle Jurassic to the Early Cretaceous have been recorded in China: Liaobittacus Ren, 1993 from the Haifanggou Formation; Megabittacus Ren, 1997 and Sibirobittacus Sukatcheva, 1990 from the Yixian Formation; Neorthophlebia Handlirsch, 1906 from the Tuodian Formation; Preanabittacus Novokshonov, 1993, Mongolbittacus Petrulevičius, Huang & Ren, 2007, Formosibittacus Li, Ren & Shih, 2008, Jurahylobittacus Li, Ren & Shih, 2008, Decoribittacus Li & Ren, 2009, Karattacus Novokshonov, 1997, and Exilibittacus Yang, Ren & Shih, 2012, all from the Jiulongshan Formation. A list of 14 species in 11 genera is summarized in Table 1.

Table 1.
Download as
CSV
XLSX

A list of Bittacidae fossils described from China.

Genus Species Locality Horizon/Age
Megabittacus Ren, 1997 M. beipiaoensis Ren, 1997 Beipiao, Liaoning Yixian Fm.,K1
M. colosseus Ren, 1997 Beipiao, Liaoning Yixian Fm.,K1
M. spatiosus Yang, Shih & Ren, 2012 Beipiao, Liaoning Yixian Fm.,K1
Sibirobittacus Novokshonov, 1993 S. atalus Ren, 1997 Beipiao, Liaoning Yixian Fm., K1
Neorthophlebia Handlirsch, 1906 N. yunnanensis Zhang & Hong, 2003 Tuodian, Yunnan Tuodian Fm., J3
Decoribittacus Li & Ren, 2009 D. euneurus Li & Ren, 2009 Ningcheng, Inner Mongolia Jiulongshan Fm., J2
D. stictus Li & Ren, 2009 Ningcheng, Inner Mongolia Jiulongshan Fm., J2
Exilibittacus Yang, Shih & Ren, 2012 E. lii Yang, Shih & Ren, 2012 Ningcheng, Inner Mongolia Jiulongshan Fm., J2
E. plagioneurus sp. n. Ningcheng, Inner Mongolia Jiulongshan Fm., J2
E. foliaceus sp. n. Ningcheng, Inner Mongolia Jiulongshan Fm., J2
Formosibittacus Li, Ren & Shih, 2008 F. macularis Li, Ren & Shih, 2008 Ningcheng, Inner Mongolia Jiulongshan Fm., J2
Jurahylobittacus Li, Ren & Shih, 2008 J. astictus Li, Ren & Shih, 2008 Ningcheng, Inner Mongolia Jiulongshan Fm., J2
Karattacus Novokshonov, 1997 K. longialatus Li & Ren, 2009 Ningcheng, Inner Mongolia Jiulongshan Fm., J2
Liaobittacus Ren, 1993 L. longantennatus Ren, 1993 Beipiao, Liaoning Haifanggou Fm., J2
Preanabittacus Novokshonov, 1993 P. validus Yang, Shih & Ren, 2012 Ningcheng, Inner Mongolia Jiulongshan Fm., J2
Mongolbittacus Petrulevičius, Huang & Ren, 2007 M. daohugoensis Petrulevičius, Huang & Ren, 2007 Ningcheng, Inner Mongolia Jiulongshan Fm., J2
M. speciosus sp. n. Ningcheng, Inner Mongolia Jiulongshan Fm., J2
M. oligophlebius sp. n. Ningcheng, Inner Mongolia Jiulongshan Fm., J2

Herein we describe four new species of Bittacidae, based on five recently collected fossil specimens from the Jiulongshan Formation of Daohugou, Ningcheng County, Inner Mongolia, China. The section at Daohugou Village is composed of grey tuffaceous sandstone and sandy mudstone (Ren et al. 2002). This formation has yielded abundant and diverse insect fossils (Ren et al. 2010), such as Lepidoptera (Zhang et al. 2013), Mecoptera (Ren et al. 2009; Wang et al. 2012; Wang et al. 2014), Hymenoptera (Shih et al. 2010; Li et al. 2013; Wang et al. 2014), Diptera (Liu et al. 2012), Neuroptera (Wang et al. 2010) and many others insects (Gao et al. 2012).

Material and methods

The fossil specimens were examined with a Leica M165C dissecting microscope and illustrated with the aid of a camera lucida attached to the microscope; drawings were scanned into a computer by EPSON5100 and were edited with Adobe Photoshop® CS3. Photographs of the specimens and magnified images of the details were taken with a digital camera system attached to the Leica M165C. Specimens were at times treated with ethanol (95%) on the surface to enhance the clarity and contrast. All type specimens are deposited in the Key Lab of Insect Evolution and Environmental Changes, the College of Life Sciences, Capital Normal University, Beijing, China (CNUB, Ren Dong, Curator). The wing venation nomenclature follows Byers (1979). The term of ‘bittacid cross’ is defined as the crossveins of [R4+5-M1+2, M1+2-M3] (Bechly and Schweigert 2000).

Systematic paleontology

Order Mecoptera Packard, 1886
Infraorder Raptipeda Willmann, 1977
Family Bittacidae Handlirsch, 1906

Mongolbittacus Petrulevičius, Huang & Ren, 2007

Type species

Mongolbittacus daohugoensis Petrulevičius, Huang & Ren, 2007

Included species

Type species, Mongolbittacus speciosus sp. n., and Mongolbittacus oligophlebius sp. n.

Mongolbittacus speciosus sp. n.

http://zoobank.org/442F8176-318C-4671-8BA1-83B449A8F4C7
Figs 1, 2, 3, 4

Etymology

The specific epithet is derived from a Latin word of speciosus (showy), highlighting the well-preserved wings in the holotype.

Holotype

A male specimen well-preserved, CNU-MEC-NN2013008 P/C, part and counterpart. Body 8.8 mm long; forewing 11.3 mm long with a maximal width of 3.0 mm; hind wing 9.1 mm long with a maximal width of 3.0 mm.

Horizon and locality

Jiulongshan Formation, late Middle Jurassic, Daohugou Village, Shantou Township, Ningcheng County, Inner Mongolia, China.

Diagnosis

In forewing, Sc reaching the anterior margin proximad of the forking of Rs; one crossvein between C and R1; 1A and 2A fusing at base; and 2A sharply curving to the posterior margin.

Description

A male specimen in lateral view. The head oviform with robust and slender chewing mouthparts. Compound eyes large and oval. Antennae almost complete, filiform, about 6.9 mm long, comprising about twenty antennomeres; the lengths of basal antennomeres almost the same, but several apical antennomeres shorter than the basal ones. Thorax divided into pronotum, mesonotum and metanotum from the lateral view (Figs 1A–C, 4B, F).

Figure 1. 

Mongolbittacus speciosus sp. n., holotype, CNU-MEC-NN2013008 P/C. A photo of part B line drawing of part C photo of counterpart D photo of legs, under alcohol. Scale bars represent 3 mm in A–C, 0.5 mm in D.

Legs. Long and slender in lateral view, densely covered with short setae. But all legs fragmented due to poor preservation. Mesocoxa, metacoxa, trochanter visible in lateral view. Mid tibia 4.4 mm; tibial spurs long and sharp. Tarsus with 5 tarsomeres and a single pretarsal claw, but the fifth tarsomere not folded against the fourth as preserved. In addition, the second and third tarsomeres covered with a few small spines (Fig. 1A–D).

Forewing. No maculation, base of wing narrow. Sc short, one oblique subcostal crossvein (Scv) between Sc and R1; one crossvein between R1 and C; R1 smooth and reaching the dark pterostigmal area; Rs originating from R1 at an acute angle; one crossvein between R1 and R2+3, one crossvein between R2+3 and R4 and one crossvein between R4 and R5; the ‘bittacid cross’ not aligned, Z-shaped (in side view), and posterior part of ‘the ‘bittacid cross’ distad of the forking of M3+4; M with four branches and bifurcating proximad of the forking of Rs; one crossvein between R5 and M1, one between M1 and M2 and one between M2 and M3; M4 simple, one long and oblique crossvein between M4 and Cu1; Cu1 and M overlapping at base for a short distance; Cu2 curving sharply with a 90° angle, reaching the posterior margin; Cu1 and Cu2 almost parallel, with three crossveins between them, the first oblique crossvein located at the base of the wing, the second at the level of Scv, and the third near the sharp bending of Cu2. Veins 1A and 2A fusing at base, 1A reaching the posterior margin proximad of the origination of Rs from R1; two crossveins between 1A and Cu2 (Figs 2A–D, 3A).

Figure 2. 

Mongolbittacus speciosus sp. n., holotype, CNU-MEC-NN2013008 P/C. Line drawings of part. A left forewing D right forewing E left hind wing H right hind wing. Line drawings of counterpart B right forewing C left forewing F right hind wing G left hind wing. Scale bars represent 1 mm in A–H.

Figure 3. 

Mongolbittacus speciosus sp. n., holotype. A line drawing of forewing, composite of right and left forewings of part and counterpart B line drawing of hind wing, composite of right and left hind wings of part and counterpart. Scale bars represent 1 mm in A–B.

Hind wing. Sc short, reaching the anterior margin proximad of the forking of Rs; one crossvein between R1 and C; One subcostal crossvein (Scv) between Sc and R1, one crossvein between R1 and R2+3, and one short crossvein between R2+3 and R4; R4 sharply bending upwards, then parallel with R5, one crossvein between them; the ‘bittacid cross’ not aligned, Z-shaped; M forking proximad of the bifurcation of Rs; one crossvein between R5 and M1, one between M1 and M2, one between M2 and M3 and one oblique crossvein between M4 and Cu1; Cu1 and Cu2 almost parallel with two crossveins between them; Cu2 bending sharply with an 90° angle at the level slightly proximad of the forking of M3+4; one crossvein between Cu2 and 1A (Figs 2E–H, 3B).

Abdomen. Abdomen 6.5 mm long, with 9 visible segments. The ninth tergum (T9) connecting gonocoxite with dense short setae at the apex, epiandrium well-preserved with long setae on the surface; procitiger and cercus present in lateral view (Figs 1A–C, 4A, C).

Figure 4. 

Mongolbittacus speciosus sp. n., holotype, photos under alcohol and a line drawing. A genitalia in lateral view B head C line drawing of genitalia in lateral view D vein M forking proximad of Rs forking in left forewing E anal field of left forewing; F thorax; Scale bars represent 0.5 mm in A, C, 1 mm in B, D–F. Abbreviations: c, cercus; epi, epiandrium; gx, gonocoxite; prc, procitiger.

Remarks

Mongolbittacus speciosus sp. n. (Figs 1–4) is assigned to the genus Mongolbittacus based on the following generic diagnostic characters: R4+5 plus R4 distinctively curved; M4 simple; the ‘bittacid cross’ not aligned; wide posterior anal field; and the forking of M proximad of the Rs forking. M. speciosus sp. n. is distinguished from the other two species of Mongolbittacus by veins of 1A and 2A fusing at base, and 2A sharply curving to the posterior margin, as shown in the key below.

Mongolbittacus oligophlebius sp. n.

http://zoobank.org/D4B8FBAC-45F0-4A31-B805-108FB33AC7B1
Figs 5, 6

Etymology

The specific name oligophlebius denotes the wing venation is simple with only a few crossveins.

Holotype

CNU-MEC-NN-2013009 P/C, part and counterpart. Forewing 12 mm long with a maximal width of 3.5 mm.

Paratype

CNU-MEC-NN-2013014.

Horizon and locality

Jiulongshan Formation, late Middle Jurassic, Daohugou Village, Ningcheng County, Inner Mongolia, China.

Diagnosis

The posterior part of the “bittacid cross’ coinciding with the forking of M3+4; one oblique crossvein between R2+3 and R4 at the bifurcation of R2+3; and length of R3 0.9 times as long as R2+3.

Description

Poorly preserved with only one complete forewing and the basal part of one hind wing. But the mid-tibia with two long spurs and five tarsomeres well-preserved, covered by dense short setae (Fig. 5A, B, D).

Figure 5. 

Mongolbittacus oligophlebius sp. n., holotype, CNU-MEC-NN-2013009 P/C. A photo of part B photo of counterpart C anal field of left forewing, under alcohol D photo of a leg, under alcohol E line drawing of right forewing of part. Scale bars represent 3 mm in A–B, 1 mm in C–E.

Forewing. Sc reaching the anterior margin proximad of the forking of Rs, one crossvein between C and R1; one subcostal crossvein (Scv) between Sc and R1; Rs bifurcating into four branches, one crossvein between R1 and R2+3 and one oblique crossvein between R2+3 and R4; Rs arising from R1 at an acute angle; length of R3 0.9 times as long as R2+3; one crossvein between R4 and R5; M with four branches and bifurcating proximad of the forking of Rs; the ‘bittacid cross’ not aligned; the posterior part of the ‘bittacid cross’ coinciding with the forking of M3+4; one crossvein between R5 and M1, one between M1 and M2 and one between M2 and M3; one crossvein between Cu1 and M4, Cu1 and Cu2 parallel with two crossveins between them; one crossvein between Cu2 and 1A; 1A reaching the posterior margin distad of the origination of Rs from R1; 2A bending sharply and reaching the posterior margin, a short crossvein between 1A and 2A (Figs 5C, E, 6C).

Figure 6. 

Mongolbittacus oligophlebius sp. n., paratype, CNU-MEC-NN-2013014. A photo B line drawing of part C line drawing of left forewing of part; Scale bars represent 2 mm in A–B, 1 mm in C.

Remarks

Mongolbittacus oligophlebius sp. n. (Figs 5, 6) is assigned to the genus Mongolbittacus based on the following generic diagnostic characters: R4+5 plus R4 distinctively curved; M4 simple; the ‘bittacid cross’ not aligned; posterior anal field broad; and 2A bending sharply and reaching the posterior margin. This new species is differentiated from M. daohugoensis and M. speciosus sp. n. by characters as shown in the key below.

Key to species of Mongolbittacus based on characters of the forewing

1 Sc reaching the anterior margin proximad of the forking of Rs (Figs 3A, 5E) 2
– Sc reaching the anterior margin distad of the forking of Rs M. daohugoensis Petrulevičius, Huang & Ren, 2007
2 1A and 2A fusing at base (Fig. 3A) M. speciosus sp. n.
– A short crossvein between 1A and 2A (Fig. 5E) M. oligophlebius sp. n.

Exilibittacus Yang, Ren & Shih, 2012

Type species

Exilibittacus lii Yang, Ren & Shih, 2012.

Included species

Type species, E. foliaceus sp. n., and E. plagioneurus sp. n.

Emended diagnosis

Forewing: Sc reaching the anterior margin at the same level or proximad of the forking of R4+5; the ‘bittacid cross’ aligned, the posterior of the ‘bittacid cross’ distad of the bifurcation of M3+4; 1A terminating at the posterior margin at the same level or distad of the origination of Rs from R1. Hind wing: Rs with three or four branches, M with three branches and 2A absent.

Exilibittacus foliaceus sp. n.

http://zoobank.org/98FF3AC2-E493-45B7-B351-27B42685200A
Fig. 7

Etymology

The Latin word of “foliaceus” means folliform, referring to the shape of the wings like leaves.

Holotype

Female, CNU-MEC-NN2013010, in dorsal view. Body length 12.9 mm, forewing 11.7 mm long and 2.9 mm wide; hind wing 9.7 mm long and 2.6 mm wide.

Horizon and locality

Jiulongshan Formation, late Middle Jurassic, Daohugou Village, Shantou Township, Ningcheng County, Inner Mongolia, China.

Diagnosis

Forewing: pterostigmal crossveins (Pcv) absent, but 2A present. Hind wing: Rs with four branches and the bifurcation of Rs at the same level of the bifurcation of M.

Description

A female holotype preserved in dorsal view. Antenna filiform, scape, pedicel and part of other antennomeres preserved. The vertex of the head raised. Legs not well-preserved, covered with short setae; the fifth tarsomere folded against the fourth, a claw present (Fig. 7A, B).

Figure 7. 

Exilibittacus foliaceus sp. n., holotype, CNU-MEC-NN2013010. A photo B line drawing C line drawing of left forewing D line drawing of left hind wing E photo of genitalia in dorsal view, under alcohol F line drawing of genitalia in dorsal view. Scale bars represent 3 mm in A, B, 2 mm in C, D, 0.5 mm in E, F. Abbreviations: T9, the ninth tergum; T10, the tenth tergum; c, cercus; spa, supraanale.

Forewing. The base of wings narrow, pterostigma slightly dark. Sc terminating at the anterior margin proximad of the R4+5 forking; one subcostal crossvein (Scv) between Sc and R1; R1 running straight through pterostigma, without sagging; one crossvein between R1 and R2+3; Rs with four branches, R4 slightly curved at beginning and then parallel with R5; one crossvein between R2+3 and R4 and one crossvein between R4 and R5; M with four branches, M3+4 forking far proximad of the bifurcation of M1+2; the ‘bittacid cross’ aligned and gently curved, posterior part of the ‘bittacid cross’ reaching M3 distad of the M3+4 forking point; one crossvein between R5 and M1, one between M1 and M2 and one between M2 and M3; Cu1 and Cu2 almost parallel with two crossveins between them, one crossvein between M4 and Cu1; 1A and 2A simple and one crossvein between them; 1A reaching the posterior margin at the same level of the origination of Rs from R1; 2A reaching the posterior margin at the same level of the origination point of M (Fig. 7C).

Hind wing. With the same shape as the forewing. R1 running smoothly through pterostigma; pterostigmal crossveins (Pcv) absent; Rs with four branches; one crossvein between R2+3 and R4 and one between R4 and R5; the ‘bittacid cross’ aligned; M divided into three branches; two crossveins between R5 and M1, one between M1 and M2, one between M2 and M3 and one between M3 and Cu1; Cu1 and Cu2 parallel and with one crossvein between them. Vein 1A reaching the posterior margin at the level slightly proximad of the Rs originating from R1, one crossvein between Cu2 and 1A (Fig. 7D).

Abdomen. Abdomen 9.1 mm long, with ten visible segments. Female genital structure well-preserved from the dorsal view. Supraanale and cercus covered with small and short setae (Fig. 7A, B, E, F).

Remarks

Exilibittacus foliaceus sp. n. (Fig. 7) is assigned to the genus Exilibittacus Yang, Ren & Shih, 2012 based on the following generic diagnostic characters: in forewing, Sc reaching the anterior margin proximad of the forking of R4+5 and the ‘bittacid cross’ aligned; and in hind wing, Rs with four branches while M with three branches. Exilibittacus foliaceus sp. n. is distinguished from the other two species as shown by the key below.

Exilibittacus plagioneurus sp. n.

http://zoobank.org/CCEF6E6E-B54D-43CB-8E24-F289597FB4C1
Figs 8, 9

Etymology

From Greek “plagios” (oblique) and “neuron” (vein), referring to oblique crossveins of the wings.

Holotype

Female, CNU-MEC-NN2013013 P/C, in dorsal view. Abdomen length 8.3 mm, forewing length 9.3 mm with a maximal width of 2.3 mm; hind wing length 8.4 mm with a maximal width of 2.2 mm.

Horizon and locality

Jiulongshan Formation, late Middle Jurassic, Daohugou Village, Shantou Township, Ningcheng County, Inner Mongolia, China.

Diagnosis

Forewing Sc terminating at the anterior margin at the same level of the R4+5 forking; Vein 1A terminating at the posterior margin distad of the origination of Rs from R1.

Description

Female, small-sized, head not preserved but mesothorax and metathorax preserved. Legs partially preserved, one hind leg with five tarsomeres present but the pretarsal claw not preserved, the fifth tarsomere folded against the fourth; the first and second tarsomeres with several spines. (Fig. 8A–D)

Figure 8. 

Exilibittacus plagioneurus sp. n., holotype, CNU-MEC-NN2013013 P/C, dorsal view. A photo of part B photo of counterpart C line drawing of part D photo of a hind leg, under alcohol. Scale bars represent 3 mm in A–C, 1 mm in D.

Forewing. Wing narrow basally with obviously dark pterostigma. Sc long, reaching the anterior margin at the same level of the R4+5 forking; R1 not forking, one subcostal crossvein (Scv) between Sc and R1, Scv about 1/6 as long as the Sc length between Scv and the apex of Sc; one pterostigmal crossvein (Pcv) and one crossvein between R1 and R2+3; Rs with four branches, one crossvein between R3 and R4, one between R2+3 and R4 and one between R4 and R5; M with four branches, M4 base bending sharply; the ‘bittacid cross’ aligned, the posterior part of the ‘bittacid cross’ reaching M3 distad of the M3+4 forking point; two crossveins between R5 and M1, one between M1 and M2 and one between M2 and M3; Cu1 ending before the forking of R4+5, one crossvein between M4 and Cu1, one between Cu1 and Cu2; one short crossvein between Cu2 and 1A; 1A terminating at the posterior margin distad of the origination of Rs; 2A ending proximad of the originations of Rs and M, one crossvein between 1A and 2A (Fig. 9A, C).

Figure 9. 

Exilibittacus plagioneurus sp. n., holotype. Line drawings of part. A right forewing of part B right hind wing of part C left forewing of part D left hind wing of part. Scale bars represent 1 mm in A–D.

Hind wing. Sc short, reaching the anterior margin before the forking of R4+5, one crossvein (Scv) between Sc and R1; R1 smooth and not sagging through the pterostigmal area; one pterostigmal crossvein (Pcv) present. Rs with three branches; one crossvein between R1 and R2, one between R2 and R3 and one between R3 and R4; M with three branches; two crossveins between R4 and M1, one between M1 and M2 and one between M2 and M3; the ‘bittacid cross’ not aligned; one between M3 and Cu1 and one between Cu1 and Cu2. Vein 1A terminating at the posterior margin distad of the origination of Rs, one crossvein between Cu2 and 1A (Fig. 9B, D).

Abdomen. Ten segments visible, genital segments not preserved (Fig. 8A–C).

Remarks

Exilibittacus plagioneurus sp. n. (Figs 8, 9) is assigned to Exilibittacus Yang, Ren & Shih, 2012 based on the following generic diagnostic characters: in forewing, Sc reaching the anterior margin at the same level of the forking of R4+5 and the ‘bittacid cross’ aligned, and in hind wing, M with three branches. The new species is differentiated from E. lii and E. foliaceus sp. n. by characters shown in the key below.

Key to species of Exilibittacus based on characters of both fore- and hind-wings

1 Rs with four branches in hind wing (Fig. 7D) E. foliaceus sp. n.
– Rs with three branches in hind wing 2
2 1A terminating at the posterior margin of the forewing distad of the origination of Rs (Fig. 9A) E. plagioneurus sp. n.
– 1A terminating at the posterior margin of the forewing proximad of the origination of R E. lii Yang, Ren & Shih, 2012

Acknowledgements

We appreciate valuable suggestion and comments on our manuscript by Dr. Alexei Bashkuev. We are grateful to Dr. Yongjie Wang, Dr. Taiping Gao, Mei Wang, Qi Wang in the CNU Laboratory for their help and assistance to the first author. This research is supported by the National Basic Research Program of China (973 Program; 2012CB821906), the National Natural Science Foundation of China (31230065, 41272006). Great Wall Scholar and KEY project of the Beijing Municipal Commission of Education (KZ201310028033) and Program for Changjiang Scholars and Innovative Research Team in University (IRT13081).

References

  • Ansorge J (1993) Parabittacus analis Handlirsch 1939 und Parabittacus lingula (Bode 1953), Neorthophlebiiden (Insecta: Mecoptera) aus dem Oberen Lias von Deutschland. Pal ontologische Zeitschrift Stuttgart 67(3): 293–297.
  • Archibald SB (2009) New Cimbrophlebiidae (Insecta: Mecoptera) from the early Eocene at McAbee, British Columbia, Canada and Republic, Washington, USA. Zootaxa 2249: 51–62.
  • Byers GW (1979) Hylobittacus, a new genus of North American Bittacidae (Mecoptera). Journal of the Kansas Entomological Society 52(2): 402–404.
  • Bechly G, Schweigert G (2000) The first fossil hanging flies (Insecta: Mecoptera: Raptipedia: Cimbrophlebiidae and Bittacidae) from the limestones of Solnhofen and Nusplingen (Upper Jurassic, Germany). Stuttgarter Beiträge zur Naturkunde (B) 287: 1–18.
  • Gao T-P, Shih C-K, Xu X, Wang S, Ren D (2012) Mid-Mesozoic Flea-like Ectoparasites of Feathered or Haired Vertebrates. Current Biology 22: 732–735. doi: 10.1016/j.cub.2012.03.012
  • Handlirsch A (1906–1908) Die fossilen Insekten und die Phylogenie der rezenten Formen. Wilhelm von Engelmann, Leipzig, 1430 pp.
  • Handlirsch A (1939) Neue Untersuchungen über die foddilen Indekten mit Ergänzungen und Nachträgen sowie Ausblicken auf phylogenetische, palaeogeographische und allgemeine biologische Probleme. Annalen des Naturhistorischen Museums in wien 49: 1–240.
  • Krzemiński W (2007) A revision of Eocene Bittacidae (Mecoptera) from Baltic amber, with the description of a new species. African Invertebrates 48(1): 153–162.
  • Li L-F, Shih C-K, Ren D (2013) Two new species of Nevania (Hymenoptera: Evanioidea: Praeaulacidae: Nevaniinae) from the Middle Jurassic of China. Alcheringa: An Australasian Journal of Palaeontology 38(1): 140–147. doi: 10.1080/03115518.2014.843376
  • Li Y-L, Ren D, Shih C-K (2008) Two Middle Jurassic hanging-flies (Insecta: Mecoptera: Bittacidae) from Northeast China. Zootaxa 1929: 38–46.
  • Li Y-L, Ren D (2009a) Middle Jurassic Bittacidae (Insecta: Mecoptera) from Daohugou, Inner Mongolia, China. Acta Zootaxonomica Sinica 34(3): 560–567. [in Chinese]
  • Li Y-L, Ren D (2009b) History and Development of Researches on Bittacidae (Insecta: Mecoptera). Acta Geoscientica Sinica 30(4): 554–560. [in Chinese]
  • Liu L-X, Shih C-K, Ren D (2012) Two new species of Ptychopteridae and Trichoceridae from the Middle Jurassic of northeastern China (Insecta: Diptera: Nematocera). Zootaxa 3501: 55–62.
  • Novokshonov VG (1993a) Die interessante Bittacidenreste (MecopteraInsecta) aus dem Jura von Eurasien. Russian Entomological Journal 2(1-2): 57–62. [in Russian]
  • Novokshonov VG (1993b) Mückenhafte (MecopteraBittacidae) aus dem Jura, Kreide und Paläogen von Eurasien und ihre phylogenetischen Beziehungen. Russian Entomological Journal 2(3–4): 75–86. [in Russian]
  • Novokshonov VG (1997) Early Evolution of Scorpionflies (Insecta: Panorpida). Nauka Press; Moscow, Russia, 140 pp.
  • Packard AS (1886) A new arrangement of the orders of insects. The American Naturalist 20(9): 808.
  • Petrulevičius JF, Huang D-Y, Ren D (2007) A new hangingfly (Insecta: Mecoptera: Bittacidae) from the Middle Jurassic of Inner Mongolia, China. African Invertebrates 48(1): 145–152.
  • Ren D (1993) First discovery of fossil bittacids from China. Acta Geologica Sinica 67: 376–381.
  • Ren D (1997) Studies on Late Jurassic scorpionflies from Northeast China. Acta Zootaxonomica Sinica 22(1): 75–85.
  • Ren D, Gao K-Q, Guo Z-G, Ji S-A, Tan J-J, Song Z (2002) Stratigraphic division of the Jurassic in the Daohugou area, Ningcheng, Inner Mongolia. Geological Bulletin of China 21(8–9): 584–591. [in Chinese with English abstract] doi: 10.3969/j.issn.1671-2552.2002.08.021
  • Ren D, Labandeira CC, Santiago-Blay JA, Rasnitsyn AP, Shih C-K, Bashkuev AV, Logan MA, Hotton CL, Dilcher D (2009) A Probable Pollination Mode Before Angiosperms: Eurasian, Long-Proboscid Scorpionflies. Science 326: 840–847. doi: 10.1126/science.1178338
  • Ren D, Shih C-K, Gao T-P, Yao Y-Z, Zhao Y-Y (2010) Silent Stories-Insect Fossil Treasures from Dinosaur Era of the Northeastern China. Science Press, Beijing, China, 414 pp.
  • Riek EF (1955) Fossil insects from the Triassic bed at Mt. Crosby, Queensland. Australian Journal of Zoology 3: 654–691. doi: 10.1071/ZO9550654
  • Shih C-K, Feng H, Liu C-X, Zhao Y-Y, Ren D (2010) Morphology, phylogeny, evolution and dispersal of pelecinid wasps (Hymenoptera: Pelecinidae) over 165 million years. Annals of the Entomological Society of America 103: 875–885. doi: 10.1603/AN09043
  • Sukatcheva ID (1990) Scorpionflies. Panorpida. In: Rasnitsyn AP (Ed.) Late Mesozoic Insects of Eastern Transbaikalia [Pozdnemezozoyskie nasekomye Vostochnogo Zabaykalya]. Transactions of the Plaeontological Institute of the USSR Academy of Sciences [Trudy Paleontologicheskogo instituta Akademiinauk SSSR] 239: 88–94. [in Russian]
  • Tillyard RJ (1933) The panorpoid complex in the British Rhaeic and Lias. Britain Museum Fossil Insects 3: 1–79.
  • Willmann R (1977) Mecopteran aus dem untereozänen Moler des Limfjordes (Dänemark). Neues Jahrbuch für Geologie und Paläontologie, Monatschefte 1977(12): 735–744.
  • Wang C, Zhu Y, Shih C-K, Ren D (2014) A new fossil hangingfly (Mecoptera: Cimbrophlebiidae) from the Early Cretaceous of China. Acta Geologica Sinica (English Edition) 88(1): 29–34. doi: 10.1111/1755-6724.12180
  • Wang M, Rasnitsyn AP, Ren D (2014) Two New Fossil Sawflies (Hymenoptera, Xyelidae, Xyelinae) from Middle Jurassic of China. Acta Geologica Sinica (English Edition) 88(4): 1027–1033. doi: 10.1111/1755-6724.12269
  • Wang Y-J, Liu Z-Q, Wang X, Shih C-K, Zhao Y-Y, Engel MS, Ren D (2010) Ancient pinnate leaf mimesis among lacewings. Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences USA 107(37): 16212–16215. doi: 10.1073/pnas.1006460107
  • Wang Y-J, Labandeira CC, Shih C-K, Ding Q-L, Wang C, Zhao Y-Y, Ren D (2012) Jurassic mimicry between a hangingfly and a ginkgo from China. Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences USA 109(50): 20514–20519. doi: 10.1073/pnas.1205517109
  • Yang X-G, Shih C-K, Ren D, Petrulevičius JF (2012a) New Middle Jurassic hangingflies (Insecta: Mecoptera) from Inner Mongolia, China. Alcheringa: An Australasian Journal of Palaeontology 36(2): 195–201. doi: 10.1080/03115518.2012.622143
  • Yang X-G, Shih C-K, Ren D (2012b) New fossil hangingflies Mecoptera, Raptipeda, Bittacidae from the Middle Jurassic to Early Cretaceous of northeastern China. Geodiversitas 34(4): 785–799. doi: 10.5252/g2012n4a4
  • Zhang W-T, Shih C-K, Labandeira CC, Sohn JC, Davis DR, Santiago-Blay JA, Flint O, Ren D (2013) New fossil Lepidoptera (Insecta: Amphiesmenoptera) from the Middle Jurassic Jiulongshan Formation, Northeastern China. PLoS ONE 8(11): e79500. doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0079500
  • Zhang Z-J, Lu L-W, Jin Y-G, Fang X-S, Hong Y-C (2003) Discovery of fossil insect in the Tuodian Formation, central Yunnan. Geological Bulletin of China 22(6): 452–455.
login to comment