Acanthochrysa langae gen. et sp. nov., a new lacewing larva (Neuroptera: Chrysopoidea) from mid-Cretaceous Kachin amber

Abstract

A new genus and species of fossil lacewing larva (Neuroptera: Chrysopoidea), Acanthochrysa langae gen. et sp. nov., is described from mid-Cretaceous Kachin (Burmese) amber from Myanmar. This lacewing larva bears extremely elongate setose tubular tubercles (TTs) and is therefore a debris-carrying (camouflaging) morphotype. The new genus can be distinguished from Myrmeleontiformia mainly based on the presence of an apical antennal receptor (specialized terminal seta) and setiferous tubercles, and it can be distinguished from other chrysopids mainly due to the well-defined, long cervix and presence of one pair of TTs on the first segment of the thorax. The discovery of this new specimen adds novel information to our knowledge of the morphological and taxonomic palaeodiversity of Mesozoic lacewing larvae, and provides a new sample for further research on the evolutionary history of camouflage and mimesis strategy and related morphological adaptations in chrysopoids.