Research article
24 Mar 2017
Research article | 24 Mar 2017
The blueprint of the Amphiesmenoptera – Tarachoptera, a new order of insects from Burmese amber (Insecta, Amphiesmenoptera)
Wolfram Mey1, Wilfried Wichard2, Patrick Müller3, and Bo Wang4,5
Wolfram Mey et al.
Wolfram Mey1, Wilfried Wichard2, Patrick Müller3, and Bo Wang4,5
- 1Museum für Naturkunde, Leibniz Institute of Evolution and Biodiversity
Research at the Humboldt University, Invalidenstr. 43, 10115 Berlin,
Germany
- 2University of Cologne, Institute of Biology, Gronewaldstr. 2, 50931 Cologne,
Germany
- 3independent researcher: Friedhofstraße 9 66894 Käshofen, Germany
- 4State Key Laboratory of Palaeobiology and Stratigraphy, Nanjing Institute
of Geology and Palaeontology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Nanjing 210008,
China
- 5Key Laboratory of Zoological Systematics and Evolution, Institute of
Zoology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100101, China
- 1Museum für Naturkunde, Leibniz Institute of Evolution and Biodiversity
Research at the Humboldt University, Invalidenstr. 43, 10115 Berlin,
Germany
- 2University of Cologne, Institute of Biology, Gronewaldstr. 2, 50931 Cologne,
Germany
- 3independent researcher: Friedhofstraße 9 66894 Käshofen, Germany
- 4State Key Laboratory of Palaeobiology and Stratigraphy, Nanjing Institute
of Geology and Palaeontology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Nanjing 210008,
China
- 5Key Laboratory of Zoological Systematics and Evolution, Institute of
Zoology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100101, China
Correspondence: Wolfram Mey (wolfram.mey@mfn-berlin.de), Wilfried Wichard (wichard@uni-koeln.de), Patrick Müller (pat14789@web.de), and Bo Wang (bowang@nigpas.ac.cn)
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Received: 07 Oct 2016 – Revised: 16 Feb 2017 – Accepted: 24 Feb 2017 – Published: 24 Mar 2017
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.
