Melikertes (Melikertes) kamboja Engel & Ortega-Blanco & Nascimbene & Singh 2013, new species

Melikertes (Melikertes) kamboja Engel & Ortega-Blanco, new species

ZooBank: urn:lsid:zoobank.org:act: 696E7ECF-DBFF-42A3-BF99-E2B44CC4D13A

(Figs. 4–11)

DIAGNOSIS: Differs from M. gujaratensis in having shorter mandibles, presence of 1rs-m (absent in M. gujaratensis); marginal cell broader and not tapering along its length; discal and subdiscal cells somewhat longer than high (around 1.6 times).

DESCRIPTION: ♀ (worker): Total body length (as preserved) ca. 3.64 mm; forewing length 2.77 mm. Mandible elongate, curved, with at least two apical rounded teeth. Clypeus damaged but clearly without medial cleft or protuberances. Scape elongate and narrow; pedicel compressed and drawn out as preserved; flagellum distinctly wider than scape and pedicel. Mesosoma and legs covered by thin branched setae (particularly well visible on tibiae and basitarsi); mesoscutellum apparently not bulging nor covering metanotum or propodeum. Metabasitarsus slightly widened with parallel sides; setae distinctly branched (Fig. 11). Forewing with basal vein straight, basad cu-a by about one-half 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 present (thus three submarginal cells) (Figs. 6, 8, 10); second submarginal cell narrow, narrowed anteriorly, anterior border along Rs shorter than r-rs; third submarginal cell larger than second, with anterior border along Rs about three times longer than anterior border of second submarginal cell; 1m-cu meeting second submarginal cell near midpoint; 2rs-m weakly arched apically in posterior half, confluent with 2m-cu; discal and subdiscal cells somewhat longer than high (around 1.6 times); marginal cell elongate, broadly tubular (i.e., not tapering in width along its length), apex broadly rounded and truncate and appendiculate. Hind wing with six distinct hamuli on anterior margin. Metasoma with reddish aspect as preserved, apparently not banded and without fasciae; sting short and straight.

HOLOTYPE: AMNH Tad-272-A (Figs. 4, 5, 9); India: Gujarat, Tadkeshwar lignite mine; Cambay Fm. (Paleo-Eocene), 7–12 January 2009 (AMNH).

PARATYPE: STB-092-T’10 (Fig. 7); India: Gujarat, Tadkeshwar lignite mine; Cambay Fm. (Paleo-Eocene) (SIPB).

ETYMOLOGY: The name Kamboja refers to the Indo-Iranian Kshatriya tribe who are referred to in ancient Indian texts such as the Mahabharata. In the 2 nd Century B.C. the Kambojas invaded northern India and wrestled control of various Indo-Arayan territories including Gujarat, eventually settling and giving their name to the area (Khambat or Cambay). The name is treated as a noun in apposition.