Protaphycus shuvalikovi Simutnik gen. et sp. nov. (Chalcidoidea, Encyrtidae, Encyrtinae) from Rovno amber

Abstract

Protaphycus shuvalikovi Simutnik gen. et sp. nov., the smallest fossil Encyrtidae, is described and illustrated based on female specimen from late Eocene Rovno amber. Like most previously described Eocene Encyrtidae, the new taxon differs from the majority of extant encyrtids by the subapical position of the cerci, the relatively long marginal vein of the forewing, a distinctly swollen but not triangular parastigma, and a seta marking the apex of the postmarginal vein is not any longer than others on this vein. The new genus is characterized by the presence of a filum spinosum and the hypopygium reaching way past the apex of syntergum. This combination of the character states is known only in a few representatives of extant Encyrtinae. The new genus, probably, most closely related to the extant genus Aphycus Mayr, 1876.

A new genus and species of Encyrtidae (Hymenoptera: Chalcidoidea) with a four-segmented funicle from late Eocene Baltic amber

“…In contrast, all described genera (listed above in the introduction and key) and all studied specimens with a fs from European ambers are characterized by the postmarginal vein longer than the marginal vein, except in Protaphycus. this latter genus differs from Electrocerus in possessing a hypopygium reaching far past the apex of the last gastral tergum, as well as by the presence of a bare strip resembling a speculum running alongside the linea calva, basal to the row of covering setae and below the parastigma (Simutnik et al 2022b). the taxonomic position of the new genus remains uncertain (incertae sedis) within Encyrtinae.…”

Unexpected Diversity of Xenoscelinae in Priabonian European Amber: The Third Xenosceline Species from Rovno Amber

“…The new Rovno amber pleasing fungus beetle specimen was purchased from an amber dealer, who obtained the amber mostly in the Varash district of the Rovno region, the most important source of the new Rovno amber taxa in the last few years [ 30 , 32 , 33 , 38 , 40 , 41 , 45 , 50 , 51 , 52 , 56 , 57 , 58 , 59 ]. It was included in the clear piece of amber, weighting 7.6 g after the primary treatment.…”

Typhlocybinae leafhoppers (Hemiptera, Cicadellidae) from Eocene Rovno amber reveal a transition in wing venation and a defensive adaptation

“…In recent years, Varash District localities yielded dozens of taxa unknown from the better-studied Klesov deposit (Gilka et al, 2021; Matalin et al, 2021; Melnitsky et al, 2021; Kazantsev and Perkovsky, 2022; Legalov et al, 2022a [and references therein], 2022b; Olmi et al, 2022; Vitali and Perkovsky, 2022; Yamamoto et al, 2022). From Zhovkini, a new encyrtid genus (Simutnik et al, 2022) and the first Rovno amber ptylodactilid male (Telnov et al, 2022) were recently discovered. A map of these and other localities for Rovno amber is shown in Figure 1.…”