Gapenus rhinariatus gen. sp. n., a new whitefly from Lebanese amber (Hemiptera: Sternorrhyncha: Aleyrodidae)

Abstract

This chapter describes Gapenus rhinariatus gen. et sp. n. from the Lower Cretaceous Lebanese amber, based on an adult male specimen. Gapenus rhinariatus gen. et sp. n. is the second representative of subfamily Aleurodicinae (Hemiptera: Sternorrhyncha: Aleyrodidae) in the fossil record and the oldest representative of this subfamily known so far. The description of findings of fossil species with particular structure of the antennae as Gapenus rhinarius gen. sp. n., gives the new insight into the evolutionary processes of the Aleyrodidae. The chapter also briefly discusses the morphological features of this fossil. The newly established genus Gapenus gen. n. is placed in Aleurodicinae based on the characters as stem Sc+R forked, with branch R1 preserved and structure of the antennal segments with numerous rhinaria. This extinct genus Gapenus gen. n. sheds new light on morphological disparity and taxonomic diversity of Aleyrodidae from the Lower Cretaceous Lebanese amber forest Keywords:Aleurodicinae; Aleyrodidae; fossil; Gapenus rhinariatus gen. sp. n.; Lebanese amber; Lower Cretaceous