Abstract
Abstract. A new genus and species of fossil wood wasp is described and figured from mid-Cretaceous Kachin amber, representing the first occurrence of the family Xiphydriidae in the fossil record. Paraxiphydria resinata gen. et sp. nov. exhibits typical apomorphies of the family including a generally cylindrical body, elongate neck and dome-shaped head. Nonetheless, owing to a unique combination of traits including features hitherto unknown among species of the family, the genus is classified within a separate subfamily, Paraxiphydriinae subfam. nov. A key is presented to the suprageneric groups of Xiphydriidae. The newly described species is the first fossil xiphydriid wood wasp, extends the occurrence of Xiphydriidae into the mid-Cretaceous and adds to the known diversity of features in the family. Lastly, the simplification of wing venation and hypotheses of host-plant affiliations of early xiphydriids are discussed. We evaluate pollen associated with the wasp, assign it to the genus Cycadopites and conclude that an affiliation to the Cycadales is most likely. Article and nomenclatural acts are registered in ZooBank (http://zoobank.org/, last access: 15 December 2021), with the following life science identifier (LSID) (reference): urn:lsid:zoobank.org:pub:DA80920E-E94B-4A8E-A817-077FA7BD7D69.
Highlights
Wood wasps of the family Xiphydriidae are a distinctive lineage of approximately 165 species, most often recognized as the sister group to the Euhymenoptera (Orussoidea + Apocrita) (Vilhelmsen, 2001; Sharkey et al, 2012; Aguiar et al, 2013; Malm and Nyman, 2015), they have at times been included in the Siricoidea, alongside Siricidae and Anaxyelidae or just Siricidae (e.g., Taeger et al, 2010)
Paraxiphydria resinata sp. nov., the earliest known Xiphydriidae, is recognized as belonging to this family based on its elongate neck and dome-shaped head, as well as other features of the thorax and wing venation (Figs. 1, 2)
P. resinata has some similarities with Derecyrtinae owing to the presence of a single r-rs crossvein in the forewing and the absence of preapical spines on the meso- and metatibiae, as well as the lack of tarsal pulvilli (Smith, 1988), it can be distinguished quite readily based on wing venation and form of the pronotal collar
Summary
Wood wasps of the family Xiphydriidae are a distinctive lineage of approximately 165 species, most often recognized as the sister group to the Euhymenoptera (Orussoidea + Apocrita) (Vilhelmsen, 2001; Sharkey et al, 2012; Aguiar et al, 2013; Malm and Nyman, 2015), they have at times been included in the Siricoidea, alongside Siricidae and Anaxyelidae or just Siricidae (e.g., Taeger et al, 2010). Recent molecular phylogenies have suggested an alternative arrangement, with reciprocally monophyletic basal Eusymphyta Peters et al (Xyeloidea + Pamphilioidea + Tenthredinoidea) and Unicalcarida Schulmeister et al (= all other clades) (Peters et al, 2017) Under this estimate of relationships, Siricoidea and Xiphydrioidea were sisters (i.e., clade Xylosymphyta Engel) and sisters to a clade comprising Cephoidea + Euhymenoptera (Peters et al, 2017). The species is placed in a new genus and subfamily, and a key is provided to the suprageneric groups of Xiphydriidae
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