The first Curiosivespa Rasnitsyn, 1975 (Hymenoptera: Vespidae) from the Lower Cretaceous Crato formation (Brazil)

Abstract

Summary The first vespid species from the Lower Cretaceous Crato formation (Brazil) is described and figured as Curiosivespa sennlaubi Jouault, Rasnitsyn & Nel, n. sp. This new species can be differentiated from the other Curiosivespa species, inter alia, by its forewing venation (e.g. Rs+M and 2-M aligned; 2 m-cu meeting M slightly prior to 2 r-m). This first occurrence of the family Vespidae in South America during the Cretaceous indicates that the family was widely distributed during this period.