Praearchitipula apprima Gao, Shih, Kopeć, Krzemiński & Ren, 2015, sp. nov.

Praearchitipula apprima sp. nov.

(Figs. 3, 4)

Diagnosis. Cross-vein sc-r far proximal of the origin of Rs, the distance less than one half of Rs; r-m near midlength of R4+5; M1+2 only 1/4 as long as M1; d-cell about 1/9 of the length of wing. (Note: The position of r-m is unique for Praearchitipula and distinguishes this species from all other species of this genus.)

Etymology. The specific name is derived from the Latin “ apprima ”, referring to the first time that a fossil pediciid is described from China.

Description. A large-sized crane fly with well-preserved wings, body and head (Figs. 3 A, 3B, 4A). Body length 11.4–13 mm, head 0.5–0.7 mm, subcircular. The compound eyes with distinct facets, but no setae on eyes preserved. Antenna, 1.6 mm long, 2.1 times as long as the head length; left antenna with 14 flagellomeres preserved, right antenna 16-segmented. Palpi with four visible segments, 1 mm long, 1.3 times as long as the head length. Thorax length 1.7–2.1 mm; prothorax barely visible; anterior part of scutum in mesothorax arched convex; the boundary between prescutum, scutum and scutellum distinct; mediotergite well-developed in lateral view. The legs long and slender. The abdomen well-preserved, relatively long and slender, length 8.9–10.3 mm, with 9 clear segments. Female with ovipositor preserved. Wing: The left wing of the holotype well-preserved, but part of outer posterior margin missing (Fig. 3 A, C). Length 10.8 mm and width 3.5 mm, 3.1 times as long as wide. Wing without any dark marks except for elongated pterostigma. Sc long, 0.74 times of the wing length and terminating significantly distad of the forking of R4+5; cross-vein sc-r at 0.45 times of length of Sc. Rs of moderate length, strongly arcuated at origin; Rs arising from 0.45 times of length of wing, bifurcating into R2+3 and R4+5 at 0.66 times of length of wing; R1 long; r-r (R2) close to R1 tip, transverse; R4+5 short, 1/5 times as long as R2+3; stem of vein M bifurcating at the same level of branching of Rs; cell m1 petiolate; mM1+2 1.4 times as long as dM1+2; dM1+2 half as long as cell m1; r-m at 0.4 times of R4+5; d-cell broad distally, 1/9 times length of wing; bM3+4 2.2 times as long as dM3+4. Cu distinctly bending at m-cu, straight beyond it. Anal veins elongate and divergent.

Remarks. The current generic-level classification of recent Pediciidae is confusing and does not offer an easy solution to assign P. apprima sp. nov. to another grouping. The new species can be referred to the genus Praearchitipula based on the following characters: Rs bifurcating into R2+3 and R4+5; R4+5 short; r-m between R4+5 and M1+2. In this situation, we decide to place this new species in the genus Praearchitipula temporarily. This new species most closely resembles P. trinervis Kalugina, 1985, but can be easily distinguished from the latter in having smaller body; cross-vein r-m between R4+5 and M1+2; cell m1 4/3 times as long as dM1+2.

Material examined. Holotype, female, CNU-DIP-NN2014001, a well-preserved body with wings. Paratype, female, CNU-DIP-NN2014002.