Melikertes (Paramelikertes) gujaratensis Engel & Ortega-Blanco, new species

ZooBank: urn:lsid:zoobank.org:act: 6F377DAD-AA95-4FF1-AABB-FAB4F4A1F5D1

(Figs. 1–3)

DIAGNOSIS: As for the subgenus (vide supra).

DESCRIPTION: ♀ (worker): Total body length (as preserved) approximately 3 mm; forewing length 2.28 mm. Mandible elongate and narrow (though not entirely clear in possible views). Scape long and narrow, slightly widened apically; pedicel narrow; flagellomeres wider than scape and pedicel. Mesoscutellum damaged but apparently not covering metanotum or propodeum. Legs covered by apparently long, largely simple setae; metabasitarsus moderately expanded, with parallel sides, covered by distinctly branched setae, setae longer than metabasitarsal width; pretarsal claws widened basally, apparently simple. Forewing with basal vein straight, basad cu-a by slightly less than length of cu-a; M angled posteriorly after separating from Rs; r-rs slightly more than three-quarters length second abscissa of Rs; second abscissa Rs straight; 1rs-m absent; second submarginal cell; 1m-cu meeting second submarginal cell near base, distad second abscissa Rs by about one-half length of 1m-cu; 2rs-m confluent with 2m-cu; 2rs-m slightly arched apically in posterior half; discal and subdiscal cells much longer than high (around 3.8 times); marginal cell elongate. Metasoma densely covered by setae, without evidence bands of coloration or setae; tip of sting discernible.

HOLOTYPE: ♀, AMNH Tad-41-A (Fig. 1, 3); India: Gujarat, Tadkeshwar lignite mine; Cambay Formation (Paleo-Eocene), 72–12 January 2009 (AMNH). Syninclusions include an aphelinid (Chalcidoidea), spider, and the aforementioned specimen of Protobombus (vide supra).

ETYMOLOGY: The specific epithet refers to the Indian State of Gujarat, from which the amber originates.

COMMENTS: Although the body of the holotype is not ideally preserved, the structure of the legs, mesoscutellum, metasomal terga, and absence of a clypeal protrusion (such protrusions are present in Succinapis) all indicate this to be a species of Melikertes (Engel, 2001a), a genus of the extinct tribe Melikertini otherwise known only from the Eocene of Europe.