A new Aenictopecheidae from mid-Cretaceous amber of northern Myanmar (Insecta: Hemiptera)

Abstract

A new genus and species of unique-headed bug, Cretocephalus stysi gen. et sp. nov., is described based on a well-preserved specimen from mid-Cretaceous amber from northern Myanmar. Habitus photographs of the male holotype, photographs and drawings of detailed characters of head, legs, thorax, and photographs under epifluorescence of abdomen and terminalia are provided. The new genus exhibits remarkable differences in the diagnostic characters of all four known aenictopecheid subfamilies. However, it also shares several important characters with Aenictopecheinae, Maoristolinae, and Nymphocorinae. The morphological characters of Cretocephalus in pronotum, leg armature, and forewing may provide new insights on the morphological diversity and the higher classification system of this family. Additionally, the fossil genera Paenicotechys (Aenictopecheidae) and Enicocephalinus (Enicocephalidae) are briefly reviewed and the latter is transferred to Aenictopecheidae.