The blueprint of the Amphiesmenoptera – Tarachoptera, a new order of insects from Burmese amber (Insecta, Amphiesmenoptera)

Wolfram Mey,Bo Wang,Wilfried Wichard,Patrick Müller

doi:10.5194/fr-20-129-2017

Wolfram Mey, Bo Wang + Show 2 more

Open Access

https://doi.org/10.5194/fr-20-129-2017

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Abstract

Abstract. Based on a total of 14 inclusions from Burmese amber the new insect order Tarachoptera is established. The family Tarachocelidae previously described from Burmese amber and then placed in Amphiesmenoptera incertae sedis is assigned to this new order. The genus Kinitocelis gen. nov. is established to accommodate three new fossil species: K. hennigi spec. nov., K. divisinotata spec. nov. and K. brevicostata spec. nov. The new genus differs from Tarachocelis gen. nov. by the absence of androconial scales on the wings and the loss of Cu2 in the forewings. The species are described in detail and the critical characters are illustrated by line drawings and photos. Both males and females were described. The species can be distinguished by traits in the wing venation. The new order Tarachoptera is placed in the superorder Amphiesmenoptera based on the presence of seven amphiesmenopteran apomorphies and nine tarachopteran apomorphies. Apomorphic characters of Trichoptera and Lepidoptera could not be disclosed, which suggests an independent origin and evolution from an amphiesmenopteran ancestor which was not the ancestor of the Trichoptera-Lepidoptera clade. The species of Tarachoptera are tiny insects with a wing span of 2.3–4.5 mm but highly specialized according to their aberrant morphology. Aspects of the presumed life history of the adults were deduced from some of the derived morphological traits that could be interpreted as adaptations to a highly structured micro-environment.

Highlights

Since 2009, we have had an enigmatic fossil insect from Burmese amber on our desk for study
The family Tarachocelidae previously described from Burmese amber and placed in Amphiesmenoptera incertae sedis is assigned to this new order
The new order Tarachoptera is placed in the superorder Amphiesmenoptera based on the presence of seven amphiesmenopteran apomorphies and nine tarachopteran apomorphies

Summary

Introduction

Since 2009, we have had an enigmatic fossil insect from Burmese amber on our desk for study. The term for the superorder was coined by Hennig (1969), who simultaneously provided a number of autapomorphic characters for this taxon He presented the first cladogram on the phylogeny of the Amphiesmenoptera in which he explained the differences between genuine and false stem-group members (Fig. 7). After completing the manuscript we received, to our surprise, additional inclusions of this Burmese amber insect This new material was very welcome and enabled us to continue our study on this remarkable insect group. In a reassessment of the systematic position of Tarachocelidae we recognized the unusual morphology as significant and distinctive to consider the group as an order of its own We describe this new fossil order of insects and give a discussion of the evidence which led us to establish this higher-rank taxon. The detailed descriptions of the taxa are published in Mey et al (2017)

Material and methods

Description of new taxa

Discussion