New Fossil Xyelidae (Hymenoptera: Symphyta) from the Mesozoic of Northeastern China

Abstract

One new genus and species, Leptoxyela eximia gen. et sp. nov., and one new species, Scleroxyela cephalota sp. nov., are described and illustrated based on two well-preserved compression fossils from the Lower Cretaceous Yixian Formation and the Middle Jurassic Jiulongshan Formation of China, respectively. Leptoxyela eximia gen. et sp. nov. is placed in the tribe Angaridyelini, 1966 and Scleroxyela cephalota sp. nov. in the tribe Xyeleciini Benson, 1945; while both tribes are in the subfamily Macroxyelinae Ashmead, 1898 of Xyelidae. A key to the genera of Angaridyelini is provided. In addition, we investigated various angles between Rs+M and 1-Rs for known fossil species of Macroxyelinae, and we found the angle and the length of 1-Rs are correlated; however, we could not see any correlation between the angles and the fossil ages even within a tribe. Furthermore, based on Sc2 connected to R before Rs, the angle between Rs+M and 1-Rs, and the length of the first flagellomere, we believe that the tribe Ceroxyelini may have only one genus of Ceroxyela, and suggest that Isoxyela and Sinoxyela should be transferred to Gigantoxyelini.

Keywords

• Xyelidae
• Macroxyelinae
• fossil insects
• new species
• China