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| Buratina truncata Khramov in Khramov, Yan & Kopylov, 2019 |
Abstract
Four new genera and species of long-proboscid Paradoxosisyrinae (Neuroptera: Sisyridae) are described from the Upper Cretaceous amber from northern Myanmar: Buratina truncata gen. et sp. nov., Sidorchukatia gracilis gen. et sp. nov., Protosiphoniella anthophila gen. et sp. nov. and Khobotun elephantinus gen. et sp. nov. Presence of an elongated labrum is confirmed for Paradoxosisyrinae for the first time. 3D modelling was used to demonstrate how the mouthparts of B. truncata were assembled together during feeding. We show that there is considerable diversity in the morphology of mouthparts, wing venation and wing patterns of Paradoxosisyrinae. Nectar-feeding habits are suggested for Paradoxosisyrinae on the basis of microscopic examination of their stylet-like mouthpart structures. Possible reasons for evolutionary failure of long-proboscid Neuroptera are discussed.
Keywords: Neuroptera, Flowering plants, Insect pollination, Mouthparts, Burmese amber
Order Neuroptera Linnaeus, 1758
Family Sisyridae Banks, 1905
Subfamily Paradoxosisyrinae Makarkin, 2016
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| Mouthparts of Buratina truncata gen. et sp. nov., PIN 5608/11, holotype. |
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| Buratina truncata gen. et sp. nov. feeding on Tropidogyne flowers, which are common in Burmese amber.
Reconstruction by Andrey Sochivko.
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Buratina Khramov gen. nov.
Etymology. Genus named after Buratina, a long-nosed character of the science fiction novel by Michael Kharitonov. Gender is feminine.
Buratina truncata Khramov sp. nov.
Etymology. Derived from the Latin word truncus, meaning trunk.
Sidorchukatia Khramov gen. nov.
Etymology. Genus is named in memory of Ekaterina A. Sidorchuk (1981-2019), a recently deceased Russian paleoacarologist, who helped with preparation and microscopic examination of this specimen. Gender is feminine.
Sidorchukatia gracilis Khramov sp. nov.
Etymology. Derived from the Latin word gracilis, meaning slender.
Protosiphoniella Khramov gen. nov.
Etymology. A genus name derived from the Greek words proto- meaning first and siphon (tube). Gender is feminine.
Protosiphoniella anthophila Khramov sp. nov.
Etymology. Derived from the Greek words anthos meaning flower and philos (loving).
Khobotun Khramov gen. nov.
Etymology. A genus name derived from the Russian word khobot meaning a proboscis. Gender is masculine.
Khobotun elephantinus Khramov sp. nov.
Etymology. Derived from the Latin word elephantinus meaning pertaining to the elephant.
Alexander V. Khramov, Evgeny Yan and Dmitry S. Kopylov. 2019. Nature's Failed Experiment: Long-proboscid Neuroptera (Sisyridae: Paradoxosisyrinae) from Upper Cretaceous Amber of northern Myanmar. Cretaceous Research. 104; 104180. DOI: 10.1016/j.cretres.2019.07.010
