A new antlion genus (Neuroptera: Myrmeleontidae) from mid- Cretaceous amber of northern Myanmar

A new genus and species of the lacewing family Myrmeleontidae, Xiaoleon amoena gen. et sp. nov., is reported based on an exqusitely preserved female specimen from the mid-Cretaceous amber of Myanmar. The new genus is characterized by the combination of the absence of presectoral crossvein in both fore-and hind wings, the deeply bifurcated forewing CuA2, and the pectinately branched hind wing CuA. Noticeably, the female of the new species possesses a pair of large valvate sclerites on the abdominal segment 7 (interpreted as the putative gonocoxites 7), which had yet been found in Myrmeleontidae.(c) 2022 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

Automated summary

A new genus and species of the lacewing family Myrmeleontidae, Xiaoleon amoena gen. et sp. nov., is reported based on a well-preserved female specimen in amber. The new species has unique characteristics and exhibits a rare pair of sclerites in females.