Two interesting new genera of Kalligrammatidae (Neuroptera) from the Middle Jurassic of Daohugou, China
Author
Yang, Qiang
Author
Makarkin, Vladimir N.
Author
Ren, Dong
text
Zootaxa
2011
2873
60
68
journal article
10.5281/zenodo.202696
4c3bd0bb-b711-4cc4-9790-0e16d73cc5d8
1175-5326
202696
Genus
Protokalligramma
gen. nov.
Type
species.
Protokalligramma bifasciatum
gen. et sp. nov.
Etymology.
Proto- (from the Greek
protou
, before) + -
kalligramma
(from
Kalligramma
, a genus-group name), in reference to the taxonomic affinity of the genus as an isolated (‘primitive’) taxon in
Kalligrammatidae
. Gender neuter (
ICZN, 1999: Article 30.1.2
).
Diagnosis.
The new genus may be distinguished from other kalligrammatid genera by the following combination of forewing character states: costal space strongly narrowed towards apex; simply (generalised) constructed MP, not pectinately branched [pectinate anteriorly directed branches in most other genera], cross venation relatively scarce [dense in most other genera], eye-spot absent [shared with
Sophogramma
Ren
et
Guo, 1996
; present in other genera], CuP and 1A relatively short, not running parallel to hind margin [CuP, 1A long, running nearly parallel to hind margin in most other genera].
Comments.
Protokalligramma
gen. nov.
is unusual among
Kalligrammatidae
as the forewing venation strongly differs from those of most other known genera. Nonetheless, this genus may not be treated as a representative of a new family (or assigned to another family) because its venation is generally concordant with that of
Kalligrammatidae
. Moreover, it is similar to that of the specimen from the Late Jurassic of Karatau named ‘
Kalligramma turutanovae
’ Martynova
by
Ponomarenko (2002: Fig. 254)
(which itself likely represents a new genus).
Protokalligramma bifasciatum
gen. et sp. nov.
shares with ‘
K. turutanovae
’ a similar generalised structure of MP, CuA, CuP and 1A. In the latter, however, a well-developed eye-spot is present, cross venation is dense, CuA and CuP are longer, running almost parallel to the hind margin for considerable distance.
The presence of dense short hairs on the membrane found in the wing of
Protokalligramma
gen. nov.
is characteristic of many
Kalligrammatidae
.
Panfilov (1968)
mentioned them to be present in the genera
Kalligramma
Walker, 1904
,
Meioneurites
Handlirsch, 1906
, and
Kalligrammula
Handlirsch, 1919
. However, the membrane of the wings of other genera (e.g.,
Sophogramma
,
Apochrysogramma
gen. nov.
) lacks hairs. These hairs are most probably spinules (long ‘microtrichia’), i.e., non-cellular, non-innervated, non-socketed, and non-articulated cuticle processes, not true sensilla (
Vshivkova & Makarkin 2010
). Minute true spinules (‘microtrichia’) occur on the wing membrane of some extant neuropteran families (e.g.,
Hemerobiidae
,
Ithonidae
,
Dilaridae
), but they are usually invisible (or hardly visible) in fossils. The only exception is the presence of rather long hairs (probably spinules) on part of the hind wing membrane in the Early Eocene ithonid
Palaeopsychops setosus
Archibald
et
Makarkin (Archibald & Makarkin 2006
: Fig. 17).
Protokalligramma bifasciatum
sp. nov
.
Figs. 1–3
Etymology.
From the Latin
bi
, double, and
fasciatus
, striped, in references to the forewing color pattern of the
holotype
.
Holotype
.
Specimen No. CNU-NEU-NN2009026, deposited in
CNUB
. An incomplete, well-preserved forewing.
Type
locality and horizon.
Daohugou Village, Shantou Township, Ningcheng County, Inner
Mongolia
,
China
; Middle Jurassic (Bathonian, Jiulongshan Formation).
Description.
Forewing broad, round-ovate,
60 mm
long (as preserved; estimated complete length>
70 mm
),
38 mm
wide (as preserved; estimated complete width about
40 mm
). Entire wing membrane densely covered with short hairs, longest in basal part of costal space (in region of humeral veinlet), long in anterior portion (
Fig. 3
B), and short to very short in other regions. Trichiation on veins relatively short. Trichosors not visible due to dense, short trichiation on and near margins, probably absent. Costa stout. Costal space most dilated at 1/4 proximal length; slightly narrowed towards wing base, narrowed towards apex. All subcostal veinlets in proximal half dichotomously branched, connected by 2-4 crossveins forming 3-4 irregular costal series. Humeral veinlet welldeveloped, recurrent and branched; two unknown vein-like structures in antehumeral space (one shown in
Fig. 3
A, labeled
vs
). Subcostal space relatively narrow, with rather widely spaced crossveins. R1 space narrow; strongly narrowed basally. Rs originating close to base of wing, with seven preserved branches; origin of Rs1 close to origin of Rs, forked near its origin; Rs2-Rs4 profusely dichotomously forked. M and R clearly separated basally. Fork of M rather close to base of wing; MA and MP similarly constructed, both with few (dichotomous) branches distally. Cu divided into CuA and CuP very close to base of wing. CuA relatively short, with five distal pectinate branches, at least proximal-most branch deeply forked. CuP few-branched, forked twice in distal half. 1A profusely dichotomously branched. 2A pectinate, each branch dichotomously branched. 3A short, poorly preserved. Main area of wing posterior to R filled with regularly and widely spaced crossveins (compared with most other
Kalligrammatidae
); crossveins apparently rare in area of marginal twigging. Jugal lobe not detected, apparently absent. Wing membrane fuscous, blackish in costal space, paler in distal and posterior portion of wing, with color pattern consisting of two transverse blackish bands, and several small dark brown or blackish patches basally and near hind margin.