Mymaropsis baabdaensis sp. n. from Lower Cretaceous Lebanese amber – the earliest spathiopterygid wasp and the first female known for the family

Abstract

The oldest fossil record of the extinct parasitoid wasp family Spathiopterygidae is provided from Lower Cretaceous (pre-Upper Barremian–Lower Bedoulian) Lebanese amber. The description of Mymaropsis baabdaensis sp. n. is based on the first female specimen available for the family and significantly expands the known temporal distribution of Spathiopterygidae to the Early Cretaceous. Female characters are added to the diagnosis of the family and phylogenetically relevant morphological characters are discussed.