A new genus and species of Aulacidae (Hymenoptera: Evanioidea) from mid-Cretaceous Burmese amber

Corentin Jouault (1) , André Nel (2)

1 GR - Géosciences Rennes
2 ISYEB - Institut de Systématique, Evolution, Biodiversité

The mid-Cretaceous amber from Kachin State of Myanmar provides a well-diversified fauna of aulacid wasps. Here we describe a new aulacid genus and species Paleoaulacus minutus. This discovery highlights the underestimated diversity of aulacid wasps in Burmese Ablian-Cenomanian amber. Interestingly, Paleoaulacus minutus gen. et sp. nov. shares wing venation and body characters with the tribes Electrofoenini and Aulacini, challenging a clear placement. Future discoveries of additional specimens are necessary to precise its position or erect a new tribe to accommodate this peculiar genus. This fossil shows a developed wing venation, similar to that of the extant genus Aulacus Jurine, 1807.

Mots clés: Hymenoptera; Evanioidea; Aulacidae; Cenomanian; fossil record

Domaines: Paléontologie

Corentin Jouault, André Nel. A new genus and species of Aulacidae (Hymenoptera: Evanioidea) from mid-Cretaceous Burmese amber. Cretaceous Research, 2021, 124, pp.104799. ⟨10.1016/j.cretres.2021.104799⟩. ⟨insu-03161875⟩