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| Protoita noyesi Ulmer & Krogmann, in UImer, Janšta, Azar & Krogmann, 2023. |
Abstract
The earliest representatives of Chalcidoidea are described from Barremian age Early Cretaceous Lebanese amber and classified in Protoitidae Ulmer & Krogmann, fam. nov. (Hymenoptera: Chalcidoidea). Protoitidae exhibits a high morphological diversity of the terminal metasomal tergum which may indicate a broad spectrum of oviposition capabilities and the ability to occupy a diverse range of ecological niches. Protoitidae comprises two genera, Protoita Ulmer & Krogmann, gen. nov., and Cretaxenomerus Nel & Azar, 2005 based on C. jankotejai Nel & Azar, 2005, which is transferred from Scelionidae (Hymenoptera: Platygastroidea) to Protoitidae. Together, 10 new species, all by Ulmer and Krogmann, are described in the two included genera–Protoita bidentata, P. istvani, P. noyesi, P. petersi, Cretaxenomerus brevis, C. curvus, C. deangelis, C. mirari, C. tenuipenna, and C. vitreus. Keys to the genera and species of Protoitidae are provided. In addition, we examine the postulated plesiomorphies and apomorphies within Chalcidoidea with respect to the fossil record, and provide additional hypotheses on their biogeographic origins.
Keywords: Barremian age, Paleoentomology, plesiomorphic, taxonomy
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| Protoita noyesi, holotype A lateral habitus B apical part of antenna C fore leg basitarsus D mesosoma, lateral E head, posterior F fore wing G ovipositor complex and terminal metasomal segments. Scale bars: 500 µm (A); 200 µm (F); 100 µm (D); 50 µm (G). 3v = 3rd valvulae; axl = axillula; btc = basitarsal comb; cal = calcar; cer = cerci; msc = mesoscutum; msct = mesoscutellum; no1 = pronotum; ov = ovipositor; pl2 = mesopleuron; pre = prepectus; prp = propodeum. |
Systematic palaeontology
Order Hymenoptera Linnaeus, 1758
Superfamily Chalcidoidea
Family Protoitidae Ulmer & Krogmann, fam. nov.
Protoita Ulmer & Krogmann, gen. nov.
Diagnosis: Small, less than 1 mm in length. Head transverse in dorsal view, wider than mesosoma and with temple narrow. Metasoma sessile, broadly associated with mesosoma, and in dorsal view triangular in shape; syntergum no longer than preceding tergite; cerci digitiform. Female with exerted ovipositor at most ¼ as long as length of metasoma.
Protoita noyesi Ulmer & Krogmann, sp. nov.
Diagnosis: The female of Protoita noyesi differs from those of other species in the genus by the following combination of characters: occiput impressed relative to vertex (Fig. 4E). Flagellomere 8–12 with micropilosity on ventrum. Ovipositor sheaths broadened at midpoint before tapering distally (Fig. 4G).
Jonah M. UImer, Petr Janšta, Dany Azar and Lars Krogmann. 2023. At the Dawn of Megadiversity – Protoitidae, A New Family of Chalcidoidea (Hymenoptera) from Lower Cretaceous Lebanese Amber. Journal of Hymenoptera Research. 96: 879-924. DOI: 10.3897/jhr.96.105494
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