New dustywings of the extinct subfamily Cretaconiopteryginae (Neuroptera: Coniopterygidae) from mid-Cretaceous amber of northern Myanmar

Abstract

Fossil records of the neuropteran family Coniopterygidae (dustywings) are important for understanding the phylogeny and early evolution of this highly specialized lacewing lineage. Here we describe a new genus and two new species of the extinct dustywing subfamily Cretaconiopteryginae from the mid-Cretaceous (lowermost Cenomanian) Kachin amber of northern Myanmar, namely Archaeoconis zhangzhiqiae gen et sp. nov., and Cretaconiopteryx zhengpengyueae sp. nov. These new dustywings show the basal origin of forewing RP + MA, the specialized forewing RA and RP that form a loop distally, the dense crossvenation, the zig-zagged forewing CuP, and the presence of a pair of large external male gonocoxites, which are attributed to the subfamilial diagnostic characters of Cretaconiopteryginae. Moreover, the male genitalia of Cretaconiopteryginae may represent the groundplan of the family by having a bunch of plesiomorphic character states. Our finding provides new evidence for understanding the Cretaceous diversity and early diversification of dustywings.