Archaeromma phoenicium, Álvarez-Parra & Rasnitsyn & Azar, 2024

Archaeromma phoenicium sp. nov.

urn:lsid:zoobank.org:act:152FC72A-D29C-4E0C-AD87-345C72A136A0

( Figs 1–3 View FIGURE 1 View FIGURE 2 View FIGURE 3 )

Type material. Holotype 1701-A ; a complete female specimen; left antenna and left forewing are affected by fractures in the amber. Syninclusion with two spiders (Araneae) and two springtails (Collembola). The holotype is deposited at the Natural History Museum of the Lebanese University, Faculty of Science II, Fanar, Lebanon.

Etymology. After Phoenicia, ancient name of the region of modern-day Lebanon.

Diagnosis. Female. Compound eyes composed by about 30–40 ommatidia; no ocelli; mandibles exodont, bidentate; toruli not contiguous, inserted above compound eyes; antenna with funicle 7-segmented and clava 4- segmented; scape 2.8× longer than wide; pedicel longer than cumulative lengths of f1 and f2; clava slightly longer than cumulative lengths of scape and pedicel; forewing: submarginal and marginal veins separated by a bulla, stigmal vein present as a bulbous area, marginal fringe composed by: six short anterior setae, eight mid-sized anterior setae, 38 long erect setae deeply inserted in membrane, and four mid-sized posterior setae, no long posterobasal marginal seta; hind wing: stalk-like, with posterior membrane slender, distal pincer-like structure present; protibial calcar curved and simple; mesotibiae with two pseudospurs; metatibiae with four pseudospurs; basitarsi as long as cumulative lengths of second and third tarsomeres; petiole bi-segmented with first segment 1.2× longer than second; gaster flattened; dorsal part of gaster setose.

Locality and horizon. Hammana-Mdeyrij amber-bearing outcrop, Caza Baabda, Mouhafazet Mount Lebanon; lower Barremian (Lower Cretaceous), upper interval at the upper part of “Grès du Liban ” ( Maksoud et al. 2017).

Description. Female. Body length 0.43 mm ( Fig. 1A–C View FIGURE 1 ); macropterous ( Fig. 2 View FIGURE 2 ); colour dark brown (preservational), without metallic shine; setae on antennae, head, wings, legs, and dorsal part of gaster.

Head: 0.10 mm long ( Fig. 3A, B View FIGURE 3 ); frontal plate convex; occipital plate seemingly flat; pleated membrane in the articulation between frontal and occipital plates not visible; compound eyes small, 0.04 mm in diameter, composed of about 30–40 ommatidia; no ocelli; mandibles exodont, bidentate; labrum flap-like, with straight apex; toruli not contiguous, inserted above compound eyes; antenna clavate, 13-segmented ( Fig. 1D View FIGURE 1 ); scape elongate, 2.8× longer than wide; pedicel wider and slightly shorter than scape, about 2× longer than wide; funicle 7-segmented; f1–f3 short and ovoid, f4–f7 mostly rectangular; pedicel longer than cumulative lengths of f1 and f2; each funicular segment with at least two trichoid sensillae; clava 4-segmented, segments closely compacted; clava slightly longer than cumulative lengths of scape and pedicel; distal claval segment elongate, with apex thin and rounded; lengths of antennal segments in μm: sc: 44, p: 36, f1: 17, f2: 15, f3: 18, f4: 17, f5: 19, f6: 24, f7: 23, cl1: 18, cl2: 18, cl3: 17, cl4: 23.

Mesosoma: 0.15 mm long, narrower than head; mesoscutum convex, apparently granulose, lacking evident notauli ( Fig. 3A, B View FIGURE 3 ); other mesosomal structures obscure.

Forewing: pedunculate with a broadly spatulate disc ( Fig. 2A, C View FIGURE 2 ); 0.27 mm long and 0.13 mm maximum wide, 2× longer than wide; forewing stalk with venation extending 0.08 mm from wing base; proximal part of stalk ( Fig. 2D View FIGURE 2 ) with margin folded, corresponding to costal cell, with scattered spicules and lacking apparent campaniform sensillum; submarginal vein thin and short; marginal vein wide, extending to wing margin; submarginal and marginal veins separated by a bulla; macrochaeta present on distalmost part of marginal vein; stigmal vein present as a bulbous area at distal part of marginal vein; disc flat, without venation; discal setae combined as short and spinelike; a few hair-like discal setae close to anterior margin; marginal fringe composed by: six short anterior setae, eight mid-sized anterior setae, 38 long erect setae deeply inserted in membrane, and four mid-sized posterior setae; no long posterobasal marginal seta.

Hind wing: short and slender, stalk-like ( Fig. 2B, E View FIGURE 2 ); 0.04 mm long; base formed by a tubular vein short reaching anterior margin and a posterior membranous section slender; two sub-basal setae on anterior margin; distal part with a pincer-like structure composed of hamulus and opposite projection.

Legs: elongate and slender; tibiae and tarsi setose; mesofemorae with a few setae emerging from small protuberances; tibial spur formula 1:0:0; protibial calcar curved and simple ( Fig. 3C View FIGURE 3 ); mesotibiae with two pseudospurs ( Fig. 3D View FIGURE 3 ); metatibiae with four pseudospurs ( Fig. 3E View FIGURE 3 ); tarsi 5-segmented; basitarsi as long as cumulative lengths of second and third tarsomeres; two small pretarsal claws; arolium wide with a thin, short projection at distal part.

Metasoma: composed of petiole bi-segmented and gaster globular ( Fig. 3F, G View FIGURE 3 ); first petiolar segment 0.03 mm long, second petiolar segment 0.02 mm long, first segment 1.2× longer than second, both segments narrow and same height, no sculpture; petiole inserted on the anterobasal part of gaster; gaster flattened, 0.16 mm long and 0.05 mm heigh; tergites indiscernible; cerci and ovipositor sheath not visible; ovipositor thin, 0.05 mm long; hypopygium setose.