A new genus and species of Leptoconopinae (Diptera: Ceratopogonidae) from Lower Cretaceous Baskinta amber outcrop in Lebanon

Abstract

A new fossil ceratopogonid genus and species from Lower Cretaceous Lebanese amber, Baskintoconops maaloufi Pielowska-Ceranowska gen. et sp. nov., is described and illustrated. The studied material originates from a newly discovered amber site in the Lebanese village Baskinta at a locality dubbed Qanat Bakish. The described genus is typified by its wing venation pattern combining characters of genera Fossileptoconops and Jordanoconops belonging to the subfamily Leptoconopinae.

Keywords

• taxonomy
• biting midges
• new genus
• new species
• Lower Cretaceous