Nymphites priscus (Weyenbergh, 1869)

Nymphites priscus (Weyenbergh, 1869)

( Figs 1 View FIGURE 1 , 2 View FIGURE 2 )

Insecte: Winkler 1865: 429 (listed); Winkler 1896: 314 (listed).

Hemerobius priscus Weyenbergh 1869a: 264 ; Pl. 34, Figs 13, 14 (original description); Weyenbergh 1869b: 236 (listed); Weyenbergh 1874: 97 (listed); Oppenheim 1888: 226, 227 (as a synonym of Chrysopa excelsa Hagen, 1862 [= Osmylites excelsa Oppenheim, 1888 ]); Scudder 1891: 148 (listed); Martins-Neto & Vulcano 1989: 369, 370 (as a synonym of Nymphites braueri Haase, 1890 ).

Névroptère: Meunier 1897: 238 (notes).

Nymphites priscus: Haase 1890: 23 (taxonomic notes); Handlirsch 1906–1908 [1906]: 609 (taxonomic notes); Martynova 1949: 167 (listed); Lambkin 1988: 450, 453 (mentioned); Martins-Neto 1992: 120 (mentioned); Makarkin & Archibald 2003: 175 (taxonomic notes); Ponomarenko 2003: 90 (mentioned); Makarkin & Menon 2005: 810 (taxonomic notes).

Diagnosis. Distinguished from Nymphites bimaculatus sp. nov. and from Nymphites sp. A by the absence of crossveins between distal branches of CuA and branches of MP.

Description. Thorax fragmentarily preserved; details not discernible.

Hind wing approximately 29 mm long as preserved (estimated complete length 31 mm); 8.0 mm wide as preserved (estimated complete width 8.5 mm). Margins poorly-preserved; trichosors not visible. Costal space narrow. Subcostal veinlets simple in proximal 2/3, some distal veinlets apparently shallowly forked. ScP, RA preserved as very closely approaching veins; subcostal space not visible. Preserved veinlets of ScP + RA dichotomously branched. RP smooth, only slightly zigzagged; originating near wing base. Preserved crossveins between RA, RP before fusion of ScP + RA widely spaced, rather regularly arranged. RP with 11 or 12 branches (poorly preserved); at least RP 1, RP 2 deeply forked. Crossveins in radial space relatively scarce, irregularly spaced proximally; rare or absent distally. Origin of M not preserved. MA dichotomously branched relatively close to wing margin. MP pectinately branched, with four branches, two deeply forked; one preserved crossvein evident between them. CuA long, pectinately branched with 11 long branches, at least one deeply forked; four-six crossveins between proximal branches forming gradate series. CuP incompletely preserved, short, apparently deeply forked. Anal veins not preserved. Crossveins between RP 1 and MA, MA and MP, MP and CuA rather scarce, irregularly spaced.

Type material. Holotype No. 15453 (part; formerly No. 10336), No. 15454 (counterpart), deposited in TM. A poorly-preserved specimen with two incomplete hind wings.

Type locality and horizon. Solnhofen, Germany; Late Jurassic, early Tithonian (Solnhofen Formation).

Discussion. Handlirsch ( 1906–1908) thought that these are forewings, apparently following Weyenbergh (1869a) and Haase (1890).