Redescription of Minyohelea nexuosa (Diptera: Ceratopogonidae) based on a new specimen from Lebanese amber
Author
PIELOWSKA-CERANOWSKA, AGATA
Author
AZAR, DANY
Author
SZWEDO, JACEK
text
Palaeoentomology
2022
2022-04-22
5
2
137
141
http://dx.doi.org/10.11646/palaeoentomology.5.2.5
journal article
55631
10.11646/palaeoentomology.5.2.5
7d8c2060-1b5a-4e98-980e-88c7ac13e312
2624-2834
6530447
C3B545B0-6521-4093-9620-C9D154B19C81
Minyohelea nexuosa
Pielowska-Ceranowska, 2021
Material.
No. JEZ-F 11, adult male. Deposited in the Museum of Natural History of the Lebanese University, Faculty of Sciences II, Fanar,
Lebanon
.
Emended diagnosis.
Only males known so far.Antenna with 13 separate flagellomeres; flagellomeres 2–12 subequal in length; terminal flagellomere slightly elongate; costal margin slightly strengthened (as in
M. minuta
Borkent, 2000
), not reaching apex of wing, costal extension weak, not reaching apex; veins M
1
and M
2
weak, but reaching margin, vein CuA weak but reaching margin; male genitalia (see also
Pielowska-Ceranowska
et al
., 2021
) similar to those in
M. falcata
,with dorsal portion of right gonostylus well developed, and dorsal portion of left gonosylus reduced. Paramere very long and straight with acute apices, longer than gonocoxites, not crossed (parameres straight, shorter than gonocoxites in
M. falcata
). Gonocoxites narrowing apicad, with three long, thicker setae on socles in distal portion (no such setae in
M. falcata
). Right gonostylus double, dorsal portion sickle-like, ventral portion irregularly elongated, strongly bent in median portion. Left gonostylus lacking dorsal portion, and ventral portion shorter than ventral portion of right gonostylus (right and left gonostyles with sickle-like portion, and straight, bacilliform ventral portion in
M. falcata
).
FIGURE 1.
Wadi Jezzine amber outcrop.
A
, Geological map of Wadi Jezzine amber outcrops (modified from
Dubertret, 1950
). J6 = Terminal Jurassic; C1 = Salima Formation (lower Valanginian); C2a = lower Barremian “Grès du Liban” sandstone; C2b = Barremian clay and oolitic deposition of the upper part of the “Grès du Liban” and oolitic deposition of the lower part of the Jezzinian; C3 = micritic part of the Jezzinian (uppermost Barremian–lowermost Aptian); C4 = Albian; C5 = Cenomanian; Q = Quaternary scree; βC2 = Barremian volcanic deposition. Thickened lines represent faults. Red arrow shows the amber outcrop locality.
B
, Drone general view of the site.
C
, Detailed view of the outcrop with the red arrow indicating the layers yielding amber.
FIGURE 2.
Minyohelea nexuosa
, specimen No. JEZ-F 11.
A
, Total habitus.
B
, Male genital block.
C
, Drawing of right wing. Scale bars = 0.1 mm.
Horizon and locality.
Holotype
: Mdeyrij-Hammana outcrop (
33.8036°N
,
35.7303°E
), Caza (District) Baabda,
Mount Lebanon Governorate
,
Lebanon
. Grès du
Liban
Formation, lower Barremian;
additional specimen
No. JEZ- F 11: Jezzine Fall outcrop (
33.5456°N
,
35.5840°E
, Wadi Jezzine village, Jezzine District, South
Lebanon
Governorate,
Lebanon
. Lebanese amber, Lower Cretaceous (Barremian) (
Maksoud
et al
., 2014
,
2017
).
Description.
Total length (without parameres)
0.55– 0.80 mm
. Head: antenna with dense plume; 13 separate flagellomeres; 2–12 nearly equal in length; terminal flagellomere slightly elongate; sensilla not visible. Details of four-segmented (
0.06 mm
) palpus and ommatidia not visible. Legs: moderately slender. Tarsal ratio of fore leg 2.33–2.57, hind leg 1.3–1.62, fore leg/hind leg 0.97–1.13. Claws simple, equal in length. Empodium not visible. Wings length
0.415 mm
, costal ratio 0.433, costa likely prolonged.
Genitalia:
0.11–0.12 mm
long (with parameres), apicolateral process absent; gonocoxite slender, elongate,
0.06–0.08 mm
long; gonostylus divided, dorsal portion irregularly shaped, rather thick; ventral portion slender, long, strongly curved without apical spine. Parameres very long, straight and symmetrical with simple, pointed apices, significantly longer than gonocoxites. Aedeagus U-shaped with low basal arch and long basal arms. Female unknown.