Protoita, gen. nov.

Antenna 14-segmented (Fig. 3A, B); clava 1–3 segmented, terminal two flagellomeres differentiated by a line of weakness (partially fused) when clava multi-segmented (Fig. 3A, B); MPS present on all flagellomeres. Clypeus inflected dorsally and laterally with an arched groove at margin (Figs 6G, 7C, 8E, 10C). Malar sulcus present. Lower tentorial bridge present, about as broad as distance between lower margin of occipital foramen and dorsal margin of hypostomal foramen. Postgenal bridge absent (Fig. 5A). Pronotum dorsally narrow, almost entirely concealed by mesonotum medially in dorsal view (Figs 5D, 6C, 7A, 8B, 10D, 11D); lateral panel externally reaching base of tegula. Mesonotum about 4× as long as mesoscutellum (Figs 4D, 5D, 6C, 7A, 8B, 11D, 13A, 14A). Prepectus laterally evident as elongate, vertical sclerite partly covered by posterior-most margin of lateral panel of pronotum (Fig. 16A, B). Mesopleuron oriented dorsoventrally, abutting ventrally on a lower plane than coxae (Fig. 8B); mesodiscrimen deeply invaginated. Fore wing with basal vein completely sclerotized (Fig. 2A). M+Cu pigmented at least distally and usually sclerotized. Marginal vein strongly sclerotized and 2–3× as wide as submarginal vein. Parastigma usually as wide as or nearly as wide as marginal vein (Fig. 2A). Costal cell reaching far beyond junction of submarginal vein and basal vein. Retinaculum pigmented. Hind wing with three hamuli of equal length and orientation, the distal hamulus not extending beyond midpoint of hind wing. Meso- and metacoxae abutting, separated widely from procoxa by mesopleuron (Figs 6A, C, 8B, 11D, 13A). Protibial spur curved and apically cleft; probasitarus with basitarsal comb nearly always present (Figs 4C, 7D, 10E, 11F, 14D:cal). Metatibia with two apical spurs with shorter spur about ⅓ length of longer spur (Figs 8A, 9A, 11C). All tarsi 5-segmented; basitarsi about as long as or slightly shorter than tarsomeres 2–4 (Figs 4A, 5A, 6A, 8A, 10E, 11F, 15C). Metasoma with short petiole. Hypopygium reaching end of metasoma.

Small, less than 1 mm in length. Head transverse in dorsal view, wider than mesosoma and with temple narrow. Metasoma sessile, broadly associated with mesosoma, and in dorsal view triangular in shape; syntergum no longer than preceding tergite; cerci digitiform. Female with exerted ovipositor at most ¼ as long as length of metasoma.

The female of Protoita noyesi differs from those of other species in the genus by the following combination of characters: occiput impressed relative to vertex (Fig. 4E). Flagellomere 8–12 with micropilosity on ventrum. Ovipositor sheaths broadened at midpoint before tapering distally (Fig. 4G).

Female. Body length 876. Body uniformly brown except legs light brown. Wings with light brown infumation, uniformly setose. Right mesopleuron with bluish metallic tint. Head wedge shaped in lateral view, wider than mesosoma in dorsoventral view (Fig. 4A, E), width 301, length 249. Postorbital carina present. Temple very narrow (Fig. 4E). Vertex concave. Occiput impressed. Antennal scrobes depressed. Toruli closer to inner margin of eye than each other. Antennal insertion at midline of eye. Genal margin with 3 setae on ventral edge. Clypeus inflexed, dorsally merging with interantennal projection. Mandibles on higher plane from face. Mandibular dentition 3:3. Maxillary palps 2–3 segmented (specimen position makes exact count impossible). Labial palps damaged. Antenna length 586. Radicle as long as basal width of scape. Scape distally laterally compressed, 2.5× as long as wide. Pedicel 2.25× as long as wide. Funicles 1–4 at least 2.6× as long as wide; fu7 2× as long as wide. Clava at least 2 segmented. All clavomeres with micropilosity on ventral side. Mesosoma (Fig. 4D) length 263. Lateral panel of pronotum narrow, not touching tegula. Mesonotum length 185. Mesoscutum partially collapsed. Prepectus present as vertically narrow triangular sclerite. Mesopleuron about 2.6× as long as wide (281:105); pleural suture present as depression. Axillae relatively small; axillulae with dorsal flange extending over wing base slightly (Fig. 4D). Mesoscutellum posteriorly sloped. Dorsellum band-like, width 28. Propodeum sloping posteriorly, at 45° angle relative to dorsal plane of mesosoma. Wings (Fig. 4F). Fore wing length 826, width 330. Longest marginal seta of fore wing 42. Submarginal vein length 350. Marginal vein wide and strongly sclerotized, length 69, width 22. Cubital vein sclerotized along basal ⅓ of its length, then present as pigmented fold, length 200. Basal vein sclerotized, length 27. Stigmal vein short, length 30. Uncus elongate, extending distally further than postmarginal vein (possible artifact); 5 uncal sensillae present. Postmarginal vein slightly shorter than marginal vein. Basal cell with 2–3 rows of setae. Hind wing slender; length 598, width 35. Length of longest marginal seta of hind wing 37. Legs with barsitarsal comb of fore leg present as sparse setation only on proximal half of tarsomere (Fig. 4C:btc). Trochanter of mid leg elongate relative to fore- and metatrochanter. Metasoma length 410. Gaster wedge-like. Metasoma broadly associated with mesosoma; petiole (Mt₁) not visible. Mt_2-9 visible. 4 sternal segments visible with hypopygium equal in length to preceding 3 segments, protruding laterally and reaching end of metasoma. Ovipositor slightly extruded; ovipositor sheaths flattened and broadest in middle (Fig. 4G).

Figure 4. 

Protoita noyesi, holotype A lateral habitus B apical part of antenna C fore leg basitarsus D mesosoma, lateral E head, posterior F fore wing G ovipositor complex and terminal metasomal segments. Scale bars: 500 µm (A); 200 µm (F); 100 µm (D); 50 µm (G). 3v = 3^rd valvulae; axl = axillula; btc = basitarsal comb; cal = calcar; cer = cerci; msc = mesoscutum; msct = mesoscutellum; no₁ = pronotum; ov = ovipositor; pl₂ = mesopleuron; pre = prepectus; prp = propodeum.

Male. Unknown.

Female. Hammana / Mdeyrij, Caza Baabda, Mouhafazet Mount Lebanon; lower Barremian. In amber mounted in Canada Balsam. Deposited at Natural History Museum of the Lebanese University, accession/specimen number: 407AB.

Specimen in good condition with slight detachment from amber along the mesopleuron, and bubble formed around propodeal spiracle.

The specific epithet is a patronym in honor of Dr John Noyes for his lifelong contributions to chalcidology.

Protoita bidentata, the only species of the genus known from the male, differs from all other species in the genus by the following combination of characters: Body and antenna bicolored (Fig. 5A). Mandibular formula 2:2 (Fig. 5E:md). Clava 3-segmented (Fig. 5C). Stigmal vein of fore wing extending at a right angle to wing margin (Fig. 5A). Basitarsal comb of fore leg lacking.

Figure 5. 

Protoita bidentata, holotype A dorsolateral habitus B male genitalia, ventral C terminal funicular segments and clava D mesosoma, dorsolateral E head, posteroventral. Scale bars: 500 µm (A); 100 µm (C–E). aed = aedeagus; dig = digitus; frn = frenum; hyc = hypostomal carina; lbp = labial palp; md = mandible; msp = mesothoracic spiracle; Mt_n = metasomal tergum; mxp = maxillary palp; no₃ = metanotum; par = paramere; psp = propodeal spiracle; tsa = transcutal articulation; vol = volsella.

Male. Body length 855. Head, scape, pedicel and fu₁–fu₄ brown. Mesosoma, metasoma and fu₅ to tip of clava dark brown. Legs pale. Sculpture on head, meso- and metasoma alutaceous. Wings hyaline, uniformly pilose, damaged beyond postmarginal vein (Fig. 5A). Head strongly transverse, 2× as wide as long in dorsal view (360/179). Temples very short, about 0.15× as long as eye length. Lower tentorial bridge wide, about as wide as long; postgenal bridge absent; hypostomal carina complete (Fig. 5E:hyc). Occipital carina present (Fig. 5E). Antennal scrobe slightly depressed. Interantennal region convex. Antennal insertion closer to inner eye margin than each other (Fig. 5A). Clypeus not visible. Dentition 2:2, extending out from facial plane (Fig. 5E:md). Maxillary palps 3-segmented (Fig. 5E:mxp). Labial palps 2-segmented (Fig. 5E:lbp). Maxilla wider than labium. Antenna length 533. Pedicel and scape partly damaged. Fu₁ about or slightly less as wide as pedicel, other flagellomeres gradually widening distally, fu_1-6 not less than 2× as long as wide, fu_7-9 less than 2× as long as wide. Clava 3-segmented, clava length 85 (Fig. 5C). MPS present on all segments including terminal segment; MPS extend beyond the distal edge of the segment. Claval segments equilateral and closely associated relative to funicle segments; clava without micropilosity (Fig. 5C). Mesosoma length 346. Transcutal articulation present as weak line of separation (Fig. 5D:tsa). Mesopleuron large, partially obscured by bubble (Fig. 5D:pl₂); separated from metapleuron by suture. Axillae not pronounced; axillulae slightly flanged (Fig. 5D). Mesonotum length 224. Mesoscutellum convex, length 44, 2× as long as wide (Fig. 5D:msct). Metanotum narrow, band-like, width 21 (Fig. 5D:no₃). Propodeum partially obscured by abdomen, relatively short, as long as or slightly longer than mesoscutellum (Fig. 5D:prp); propodeal spiracle visible, oval, posteriorly angled, closer to anterior margin of propodeum than its diameter (Fig. 5D:psp). Wings. Fore wing damaged beyond midline. Fore wing width 323. Longest marginal seta length 46. Submarginal vein length 379. Marginal vein narrow, length 81, width 24. Cubital vein narrow, weakly pigmented. Basal vein sclerotized, length 60. Stigmal vein straight, 90° relative to dorsal wing margin, stigmal vein length 44. Uncus present with ephemeral line extending distally. Postmarginal vein length 53. Hind wing length 440, width 28. Longest marginal seta of hind wing 35 (Fig. 5A). Legs. Protibial calcar long, curved, apically bifurcate. Basitarsus of fore leg ventrally curved; no basitarsal comb. Metasoma length 313. Metasoma broadly associated with mesosoma; petiole obscured (Fig. 5A). Mt_2-9 visible; all equal in length except Mt₂, dorsally slightly shorter. 3 sternal segments visible, each about 2× as long as tergal segment average length. Cerci between Mt₈ and Mt₉ digitiform, about 2× as long as digitiform base. Genitalia length externally 97. Genital capsule externally protruding. Paramere present; single apical parameral setae present. Intervosellar process broad, extends equally in length to aedeagus. Aedeagus broad with 2 sets of sensillae (Fig. 5B:aed). Digitus with 2 digital processes (Fig. 5B:dig).

Female. Unknown.

Holotype : male, Hammana / Mdeyrij, Caza Baabda, Mouhafazet Mount Lebanon; lower Barremian. In amber mounted in Canada Balsam. Deposited at Natural History Museum of the Lebanese University, accession/specimen number: 182.

Specimen with distal ⅓ of its wings missing and basal antennomeres damaged.

The specific epithet is derived from the mandibular formula of the species.

Protoita bidentata is the only species in the genus described from a male. While it is the only taxon with two mandibular teeth, sexual dimorphism in this character is very rare in Chalcidoidea, likely the female of P. bidentata is also bidentate. Unlike dentition, antennal shape and claval segments are quite often sexually dimorphic in extant chalcids, and in Cretaxenomerus curvus where the male is known we can see a drastic variation in flagellar shape and claval number. P. bidentata is the only species known within Protoita with 3 claval segments, and within all of Protoitidae only C. deangelis is also known to have 3 claval segments however that species is described from a female.

The female of P. istvani differs from all others in the genus by the following combination of characters: Head flattened antero posteriorly, disc-like (Fig. 6D, G). Fl_1-3 elongate, about 4× as long as wide (Fig. 6B). Clava 2-segmented (Fig. 6B).

Figure 6. 

Protoita istvani, holotype A lateral habitus B antenna, lateral C mesosoma, lateral D head, posterior E fore wing F ovipositor complex and terminal metasomal segments G head, lateral. Scale bars: 500 µm (A); 250 µm (E); 150 µm (C); 100 µm (D, F, G). 2v = 2^nd valvifer; cx_n = coxa; occ = occipital carina; pl₃ = metapleuron; tor = toruli.

Female. Body length 918. Coloration auburn with dark antennae. Eyes white. Wings hyaline, uniformly setose. Metasoma damaged, tergal segments detached from body (Fig. 6A). Head broad, wider than mesosoma in dorsal view, anteroposteriorly narrow, head longer than wide in lateral view (Fig. 6D, G). Frons 2× as long as face (Fig. 6F, G). Eyes large, 0.8× height of head, about 1.6× as high as long. Malar sulcus present; malar space short, only about 0.15× as long as eye height (Fig. 6D). POL slightly shorter than LOL. Toruli equal in distance from each other as to inner eye margin. Maxillary palps 3-segmented (Fig. 6G:mxp) Antenna length 676. Scape 2× as long as pedicel, gradually broadened from base (Fig. 6B). Pedicel same length or slightly shorter than fu₁, about 1.5× as wide as fu₁ width. Flagellomeres gradually widening; fu_1-3 about 4× as long as wide, fu₆ 3× as long as wide, fu_7-10 elongated, but less than 2× as long as wide. Clava 2 segmented. MPS present on all segments (Fig. 6B). Mesosoma length 299. Mesosoma in lateral view heavily sloped; nearly 135° relative to mesosoma (Fig. 6C). Mesonotum roughly 0.5× as long as mesosoma. Notauli present as simple depressions. Mesopleuron dorsoventrally elongate, 2.4× as long as wide (Fig. 6C:pl₂). Axilla not advanced, not extending beyond the anterior margin of mesoscutellum (Fig. 6A:axl). Mesoscutellum ⅓x as long as mesonotum. Metanotum band-like, 0.3× as long as mesoscutellum (Fig. 6C:no₃). Propodeum is only slightly longer than mesoscutellum (Fig. 6C:prp). Wings. Fore wing length roughly 1.1× as long as body, 3.2× as long as wide. Marginal setae of fore wing short, length of longest seta 26. Cubital vein ephemeral, roughly 1.8× as long as basal vein. Basal vein pigmented. Submarginal vein long and narrow, length 393. Marginal vein narrow, about 0.2× as long as submarginal vein. Postmarginal vein short and tapering, slightly shorter than marginal vein (63:77) (Fig. 6E). Stigmal vein at 80° angle to wing margin. Uncus present. Hind wing obscured by fore wing. Legs. Tarsomere 4 on all tarsi very short relative to other tarsal segments (Fig. 6A). Basitarsal comb of fore leg present. Hindtibia elongate, equal in length to tarsi (Fig. 6A). Forecoxa greatly impressed into prosternum (possibly an artifact). Hind coxa elongated, about 3.1× as long as broad (Fig. 6C:cx₃). Metasoma 1.3× as long as mesosoma. Metasoma broadly associated with mesosoma; remnants of Mt₂ visible (Fig. 6C). Most of tergal and sternal segments damaged. Only 3 tergites countable, all with transverse setal row posteromedially. Two elongate sensillae visible off of terminal sternite. Metasomal cerci digitiform (visible only on left side ; Fig. 6F:cer). Ovipositor length 140, not extending beyond distal point of ovipositor sheath; ovipositor sheaths roughly equal in length to ovipositor, uniform width along entire length, about 4.2× as long as wide (Fig. 5F:3v).

Male. Unknown

Holotype : female, Roum – Aazour – Homsiyyeh, Caza Jezzine, Mouhafazet South Lebanon; lower Barremian. In amber mounted in Canada Balsam. Deposited at Natural History Museum of the Lebanese University, accession/specimen number: HAR26.

Specimen with bubbles surrounding MPS on several flagellomeres, mesosoma detached from the amber, and metasomal tergites damaged because they are detached.

The specific epithet is a patronym in honor of István Mikó, the first author’s mentor and close friend who instilled in him his passion for entomology and morphology.

The female of P. petersi differs from others of the genus by the following combination of characters: Head not as transverse as in other species, only about 1.6× as wide as long in dorsal view (Fig. 7A). Clava 2 segmented; terminal clavomere 0.5× as long as preceding clavomere (Fig. 7B). Postmarginal vein of fore wing equal in length to stigmal vein, both short; and basal vein very short and wide (Fig. 7E). Hind wing marginal setae not longer than width of hind wing.

Figure 7. 

Protoita petersi, holotype A dorsal habitus B apical flagellomeres, lateral C head, ventral D fore leg E fore wing venation F ovipositor complex. Scale bars: 500 µm (A); 150 µm (E); 100 µm (B–D). ax = axilla; btn = basitarsal notch; cly = clypeus.

Female. Body length 913. Body dark brown legs, except coxae, and part of mesepimeron. Head, especially frons, vertex and back of head, base of fu₁ light brown to dark yellow. Wings hyaline, uniformly pilose. Head ovular, only 1.6× as wide as long, wider than widest point of meso- or metasoma in dorsal view (Fig. 7A). Frons 1.5× as long as face. Ocelli equilateral, POL=OOL. Malar sulcus faintly present. Antennal scrobe weakly defined (Fig. 7A, C). Interantennal projection pronounced (Fig. 7C). Toruli near lower eye margin, slightly sunken into face. Toruli more than one diameter from eye margin and about same distance from one another (Fig. 7C). Dental formula 3:3. Maxillary palp at least 2 segmented (Fig. 7C). Antenna length 549. Scape about 3.5× as long as wide, gradually broadening from base to end. Pedicel 1.8× as long as wide. Fu₁ tapering proximally at insertion into pedicel, fu_1-4 about 2.3× as long as wide, fu₇ only about 1.2× as long as wide (Fig. 7A). Clava at least 2 segmented, cl₁ wider than fu₇, claval length 187; all clavomeres with sensillary patch ventrally (Fig. 7B). MPS present on all segments in one row lengthwise (Fig. 7B). Pilosity uniform along all flagellomeres. Mesosoma length 359. Lateral panel of pronotum with 4 setae along dorsolateral margin. Mesoscutum convex, obscuring pronotum medially in dorsal view. Mesonotum large, ⅗ x as long as mesosoma in dorsal view (Fig. 5A). Notauli not externally visible (when a strong underlight is used distinct strips of thickened sclerite may be seen corresponding to notauli and mesoscutal sulcus, possibly an artifact). Transcutal articulation complete. Mesoscutellum convex, band-like approximately ⅓ x as long as mesonotum. Axillae advanced (Fig. 7A). Metano-propodeal complex obscured by wings and bubbles. Wings. Fore wing 2.9× as long as wide. Longest marginal seta 38. Cubital vein 211. Basal vein short, 0.17× as long as cubital vein. Submarginal vein 229. Marginal vein slightly less than ½ as long as submarginal vein (104), width only 17. Stigma oriented at 40° angle with wing margin. Uncus present as cluster of uncal sensillae (Fig. 7E). Postmarginal vein approximately equal in length to stigmal vein (38:39) (Fig. 7E). Hind wing elongate, 0.66× as long as fore wing, 7.75× as long as wide. Marginal setae of hind wing long, 1.5× as long as width of hind wing, length of longest visible sensilla 58. Marginal vein of hind wing less than ½ x as long as hind wing. Legs. Basitarsal comb of fore leg present (Fig. 7D:btc); slight basitarsal notch present. (Fig. 7D:btn) Metasoma. Metasoma roughly equal to mesosoma in length, attached broadly to mesosoma; petiole obscured. Mt₂ as broad as broadest point of mesosoma and only about 0.5× as long as Mt₃; Mt₃-Mt₈ about same length (Fig. 7F). 7 tergal segments countable. Ovipositor length 148, only partially extruded, enveloped by ovipositor sheaths (Fig. 7F:3v).

Male. Unknown

Holotype : female, Hammana / Mdeyrij, Caza Baabda, Mouhafazet Mount Lebanon; lower Barremian. In amber mounted in Canada Balsam. Deposited at Natural History Museum of the Lebanese University, accession/specimen number: 874A.

Specimen with right antenna damaged beyond flagellomere 5, right hind leg damaged at midpoint of femur, and right fore wing damaged beyond midpoint of marginal vein.

The specific epithet is a patronym in honor of our friend and colleague Dr Ralph Peters, for his work on the early diversification of Chalcidoidea.

Body larger than 1 mm. Head usually long in dorsal view with temples well developed. Metasoma separated from mesosoma by distinct petiole or constriction, and in dorsal view ovoid; female with an elongate syntergum, longer than preceding tergite (Mt₇) (except C. deangelis).

Female. Females differ from those of all other species within the genus by the following combination of characters: Syntergum hinged at joint with elongated Mt₇, reaching more than ¾ length of ovipositor sheath (Fig. 8D:Mt₈₊₉); fore wing with postmarginal vein about equal in length to stigmal vein and cubital vein extending beyond tip of postmarginal vein (Fig. 8F). Male. Same as female except flagellomeres all as wide as long; clava 2-segmented (Fig. 9B).

Figure 8. 

Cretaxenomerus curvus, holotype (874D) A lateral habitus B mesosoma, lateral C antenna, lateral D ovipositor complex and terminal abdominal segments E head, lateroventral F fore wing. Scale bars: 500 µm (A); 150 µm (F); 100 µm (B–E). iap = interantennal process; lcl = lateral clypeal line; Mt₈₊₉ = syntergum.

Figure 9. 

Cretaxenomerus curvus, male paratype (1614F) A dorsal habitus B antenna, lateral C male genitalia, ventral D fore wing venation. Scale bars: 250 µm (A); 100 µm (B, D); 50 µm (C). phb = phallobase.

Female. Body length 1314 (HT) – 1407 (PT). Overall body color black with a blue sheen on the gena of HT when examined at certain angles except tegulae, legs excluding coxae, and second half of ovipositor sheath dark brown, tip of ovipositor sheath light brown, and with legs almost black. Wings hyaline except fore wing slightly brownish in HT (possible artifact) and partly brownish in PT 881B; with sparser pilosity proximally on wing surface. Head, mesosoma and metasoma coriaceous to alutaceous except areolate posterior part of mesoscutellum and propodeum. Head ovate, 1.5× as wide as long (Fig. 8E). Vertex and temple of head curved strongly, back of head concave, closely associated with mesosoma. Temple about 0.3–0.25× as long as eye length. Eye broadly oval, almost as long as high. Ocellar triangle equilateral, POL=LOL=OOL. Malar sulcus faint, but present. Shallow internantennal projection (Fig. 8E:iap). Toruli closer to inner margin of eye than each other and very close to dorsal margin of clypeus, well below center of eye, hence lower face short. Clypeus dorsally with raised rim, inwardly inflexed, with row of setae just below dorsal clypeal margin (Fig. 8E). Anterior tentorial pits situated well below dorsal margin of clypeus. Dentition 3:3, mandibles on different plane from face (Fig. 8E). Maxillary palp 3 segmented, distal segment longer than basal segment (Fig. 8E). Antenna length 637 (HT)–671 (PT). Antenna 14-segmented. Radicle raised from face. Fu1-2 at least 2× as long as wide. Clava 2-segmented (Fig. 8C); clava 1.5× as long as wide. MPS present on all flagellomeres with single row on each segment; MPS on terminal segment not extending beyond tip. All segments uniformly pilose (Fig. 8C). Mesosoma length 380 (PT)–401(HT). Pronotum with bristle on posterolateral corner. Mesoscutum obscuring pronotum medially in dorsal view. Lateral part of prepectus slender and straight, dorsally covered by posteriormost corner of lateral pronotum, slightly broadened ventrally (Fig. 16A:pre). Mesonotum large, roughly 2/3× as long as mesosoma. Notauli present and simple impressions. Mesopleuron 2× as high as long in lateral view (Fig. 8,B). Suture present between meso- and metapleuron (Fig. 8A). Transcutal articulation present and complete. Axillae reduced, axillulae extending further anterior than posterior edge of mesonotum (Fig. 8B:axl). Mesoscutellum short, about 1/5 length of mesonotum. Dorsellum band like. Propodeum strongly sloped. Wings. Fore wing 2.4× (PT)–2.7× (HT) as long as wide. Pilosity sparse in basal part of wing relative to disc (Fig. 8F). Basal cell dorsally with one median row of hairs only. Longest marginal seta of fore wing 38. Cubital vein extending beyond length of postmarginal vein, length 377 (Fig. 8F). Basal vein short, length 43. Submarginal vein length 342. Marginal vein strongly sclerotized and broad, length 96, width 29; marginal vein with 6 marginal sensillae present. Stigmal vein present, equal in length to postmarginal vein, at 45° angle with wing margin (Fig. 8F). Uncus present; 5 uncal sensillae in cluster. Postmarginal vein very short, about 0.25× as long as marginal vein (Fig. 8F). Hind wing elongate and narrow 6.8× as long as wide. Hamuli count 3, proximal hamular hook longer than other 2. Hamuli and venation of hind wing only extend ⅓ length of hind wing. Legs. Hind femur slightly broadened medially (Fig. 8A). Fore tibia with curved clefted spur. Hind tibia with two spurs, shorter spur about 0.75× as long as longer one. Basitarsus of fore leg ventrally curved; basitarsal comb present, bristles of comb very short (Fig. 8A). Metasoma length 407, nearly equal in length to mesosoma. Six (Mt_2-7) tergal segments and syntergum (Mt₈+Mt₉) countable, except the Mt_3-7 all roughly equal in length from lateral view (Fig. 8A). Six sternal segments visible. Hypopygium flanged, extending beyond Mt7. Syntergum articulating with Mt₇ and covering ovipositor sheaths dorsally, syntergum length 273, Mt₇ length 51 (Fig. 8A, D). Ovipositor 1.2× as long as metasoma; tip of ovipositor with 5 teeth; ovipositor sheaths stalk-like at base, distally spatulate with sensillae along margin, sheaths approximately equal in length to syntergum (Fig. 8D:3v). Male. Similar to female except the head is not as long (Fig. 9A). Interantennal process reaching over the ⅔ of eye height, antenna with only Fl₁ about as 2× as long as wide (Fig. 9B). Clava 2-segmented (Fig. 9B). Postmarginal vein slightly longer than stigmal vein (Fig. 9D). Male genitalia extended; digitus with single digital spine (Fig. 9C:dig)

Holotype : female, Hammana / Mdeyrij, Caza Baabda, Mouhafazet Mount Lebanon; lower Barremian. In amber mounted in Canada Balsam. Deposited at Natural History Museum of the Lebanese University, accession/specimen number: 874D. Locality information and depository of paratypes same as for holotype (Female–881B,146U; Male–1614FA).

Right antenna of holotype with terminal 3 segments missing. The amber piece of the holotype included a single inclusion of a Ceratopogonidae (Diptera).

The specific epithet is derived from the Latin ‘curvus’ meaning curved or bent, in regards to the articulation of the syntergum of the species.

The metasoma of paratype specimen 146U is damaged, preventing examination of the syntergum, however the wing venation and head shape place it as C. curvus. This is the only species described based on both sexes which provides some insight into the putative sexual dimorphisms within the genus. Notably, the variation in antennal shape and claval size which is a prolific form of dimorphism within extant chalcids. The female of C. curvus has a clear clava with multiple claval segments relative to the male which has all flagellar segments relatively stout and uniform with only the partial fusion of the terminal segments indicating a clava.

Female. Cretaxenomerus brevis differs from all other species in the genus by the following combination of characters: scape laterally flattened, only 2.25× as long as broad; antenna with at least fu1–fu4 conspicuously longer than broad, fl₁ about 3.75× as long as broad. Anterolateral margin of mesoscutum flanged. Arolium elongated and extending beyond tip of tarsal claws. Syntergum relatively short, extending about ⅓ length of ovipositor sheath.

Female. Body length 1145. Uniformly dark brown, legs light brown, eyes white (likely an artifact of amber deposition) (Fig. 10A). Head. Ovular in shape, wider than long, length 201, width 313. Eye almost circular. Ocelli large, equilateral, POL=LOL=OOL. Temples relatively short, at most about 0.2× as long as eye length. Gena large, about 0.5× as long as eye length; no genal carina or sulcus present. Toruli closer to inner margin of eye than each other and very close to dorsal margin of clypeus, well below center of eye, hence lower face short (Fig. 10C). Clypeus dorsally with raised rim, inwardly inflexed; lower clypeal margin wide. Anterior tentorial pits situated well below dorsal margin of clypeus. Dentition 3:3. Maxillary palp count 2. Antenna length 706. Radicle pronounced. Scape laterally flattened, only 2.25× as long as broad. Pedicel semiglobular, only 1.5× as long as broad (possible artifact of compression), 0.5× as long as scape (Fig. 10C). All flagellomeres are longer than wide with fu₁ longest one, length 98, about 3.75 as long as wide, fu₁₀ about 1.5× as long as broad. Clava 2-segmented, 2.8× as long as broad (Fig. 10C). Micropilosity present on all claval segments (Fig. 10C). Mesosoma length 334. Notch in posterior most part of lateral panel of pronotum dorsal to prepectus with prothoracic spiracle (?) (Fig. 10D:msp). Mesonotum 238. Prepectus externally visible, thin, dorsally overlapped by lateral panel of pronotum, ventral portion curved anteriorly (Fig. 10C:pre). Notauli present as depression (Fig. 10D). Mesopleuron elongate, 1.5× as long as wide (250:164). Axillular rim with sharp carina delimiting mesoscutellum from frenum. Bubble obscuring propodeo-metanotal complex. Wings. Fore wing 2.8× longer than wide (981:343). Longest marginal seta 31. Cubital vein 174 (sclerotized part) and extending as pigmented fold beyond length of postmarginal vein. Basal vein 43, strongly sclerotized. Submarginal vein length 372, with 7 admarginal setae, basalmost 2 being longest. Marginal vein length 110, width 27, with 6 admarginal setae. Stigmal vein 61, at ≈85° to wing edge. Uncus with 5 uncal sensillae. Postmarginal vein 0.8× as long as marginal vein, tapering. Costal cell of fore wing very narrow. Hind wing slender, 10.6× longer than wide (647:61) (Fig. 10B). Legs. Basitarsomere equal in length to tarsomere 2–4; basitarsal comb absent. Arolium of pretarsus elongate, extending further distally than tarsal claws (Fig. 10E:aro). Metasoma length 555. Petiole obscured by bubble, however slendering of propodeum and expanding of metasoma suggests a constricted petiole. Metasoma with 6 countable tergal segments (Mt_2-7) and syntergum (Mt₈₊₉); 2 enlarged sternal segments countable. Hypopygium with longitudinal row of 6 setae along edge, concave distally and reaching end of Mt7. Syntergum relatively short (141), only ⅓ length of extruded ovipositor (Fig. 10F). Ovipositor length 383, tip of ovipositor with 5 teeth (Fig. 10F:ov); ovipositor sheaths equal in length to ovipositor, ovipositor sheath flattened but equal width along entire length (Fig. 10F:3v).

Figure 10. 

Cretaxenomerus brevis, holotype A lateral habitus B fore and hind wing C head, ventrolateral, and antenna D mesonotum, dorsolateral E fore leg F ovipositor complex and terminal abdominal segments. Scale bars: 500 µm (A); 200 µm (B, C); 150 µm (D–F). aro = arolium; hw = hind wing.

Male. Unknown.

Holotype : female, Hammana / Mdeyrij, Caza Baabda, Mouhafazet Mount Lebanon; lower Barremian. In amber mounted in Canada Balsam. Deposited at Natural History Museum of the Lebanese University, accession/specimen number: 1228.

A large bubble obscures the posterior of the propodeum and petiole. The head is damaged at the lateral clypeal line.

The specific epithet is derived from the Latin word for ‘short’, referring to the comparatively short syntergum relative to the other species in the genus.

Cretaxenomerus vitreus differs from all other species in the genus by the following combination of characters: fore wings broadly spatulate, with postmarginal vein about 2× as long as stigmal vein (Fig. 2A). All tarsi with manubrium broadly spatulate (Fig. 11F:man).

Figure 11. 

Cretaxenomerus vitreus, holotype A lateral habitus B apical flagellomeres, lateral C metasoma, lateral D mesosoma, lateral E prepectus F fore leg. Scale bars: 500 µm (A); 100 µm (C–F).

Female. Body length 1381. Body bilaterally damaged with some internal sclerite structures visible (Fig. 11A). Most of the right part of the specimen is missing including both scapes and right pedicel, the whole mouth complex, entire right hind leg, right midcoxa, forecoxa and femur and base of right fore wing and entire hind wing. Metasoma damaged with only Mt_2-5 and ovipositor sheats and ovipositor present. Body light brown in coloration, eyes red. Wings hyaline, speculum less pilose than wing disc. Head. Head broad, approximately 1.4× as wide as long, posteromedially depressed. Eyes large, broadly oval, slightly taller than wide (Fig. 11A). Ocellar triangle equilateral, ocelli raised and angled from head capsule; ocelli large (Fig. 11A). No facial sulci or occipital carina present. Antenna length 805. All flagellomeres longer than broad, fu_1-2 about 2.8× as long as broad, fu₃ 2.0× as long as broad (Fig. 11A). Clava 1-segmented (Fig. 11B). MPS present on all segments, extending beyond distal margin of segment, including on apical segment; MPS at least on fu_1-4 in two rows. Pilosity sparse and uniform on all flagellomeres. Mesosoma length 480, pronotum medially obscured, with setal line along mesonotal margin. Mesoscutum 0.7× length of mesosoma. Prepectus elongate and slender, overlapped anteriorly by lateral pronotal panel (Fig. 11D, E:pre). TSA complete across mesonotum (Fig. 11D:tsa). Mesopleuron large, 1.75× as long as wide; transpimeral line present as narrow line. Metapleuron small, differentiated from mesopleuron by carina. Axillae not well defined. Mesoscutellum narrow and band-like, ⅕ length of mesoscutum. Frenum discernable as shift in scutellar sculpturing with marginal foveal rim, roughly ¼ length of mesoscutellum (Fig. 11D:fre). Dorsellum damaged. Propodeum ⅓ length of mesoscutum; supracoxal flange developed, but very narrow; propodeal spiracle ovoid (Fig. 11D:psp). Wings. Fore wing spatulate, 3× longer than wide. Longest marginal seta length 40. Costal cell narrow. Submarginal vein broad and distally tapering, length 458. Cubital vein pigmented and tubular after intersection with basal vein for about length of basal vein then ephemeral distally, tubular portion equal in length to basal vein (Fig. 2A). Basal vein strongly pigmented and broad, ⅖ length of entire cubital vein. Marginal vein strongly pigmented, ≈ ⅓ length of submarginal vein. Width of marginal vein ½ length of marginal seta. Stigmal vein broad, ½ length of postmarginal vein, oriented 90° relative to wing margin. Stigma spatulate with distinct uncus; uncal sensillae count 4 (Fig. 2A:uncs). Postmarginal vein elongate and tapering, equal in length to marginal vein. Hind wing approximately ½ length of fore wing, 16× as long as wide. Longest marginal seta of hind wing longer than width of hind wing. Marginal vein of hind wing ½ length of hind wing. Legs. Hindlegs slightly longer than mid and fore legs which are equal in length (Fig. 11A). Basitarsus of all legs roughly equal in length to tarsomere 2–4; basitarsal comb of fore leg absent (Fig. 11F). Legs with sparse pilosity. Tarsal manubrium spatulate, as broad as tarsal claws (Fig. 11F:man). Metasoma. Only Mt_2-5 preserved, all equal in length (Fig. 11C). Medial longitudinal setal line present on all tergal segments, counting of setal lines retained in the amber indicate 6 tergal segments countable (Fig. 11C). Ovipositor length 248. Ovipositor sheath equal in length to ovipositor, broadened along entire length; setae arising from surface of ovipositor sheath, margin bare.

Male. Unknown.

Holotype : female, Hammana / Mdeyrij, Caza Baabda, Mouhafazet Mount Lebanon; lower Barremian. In amber mounted in Canada Balsam. Deposited at Natural History Museum of the Lebanese University, accession/specimen number: 534C.

Face and mandibles absent from specimen. Mesosoma bisected and cleared with scleritic components visible on left side, internal components visible on right. Metasoma with first few terga present, and marginal setal line of other segments still present to indicate placement. Right hind leg with only distal tarsomeres remaining.

The specific epithet is the Latin word for ‘glassy’ or ‘transparent’ in regards to the unique taphonomy of the specimen that appears as though it were cleared.

Damage to the specimen provides for a unique examination of both external and internal scleritic structures; however, damage to the abdomen has resulted in the loss of the terminal segments and syntergum. The lack of a multi-segmented clava is shared with Cretaxenomerus tenuipenna sp. nov.; however, the distinct difference in wing shape and venation separates these two specimens into distinct species.

Cretaxenomerus mirari differs from all other species in the genus by the following combination of characters: Head very transverse in dorsal view. Clypeus not as inflexed. Mesoscutum broader than long. Hind basitarsus with dense comb-like setation (Fig. 12D). Syntergum straight, and longer than ¾ the length of the ovipositor (Fig. 12D). Fore wing with a pronounced costal cell which is broader than the marginal vein, and cubital vein equal in length to distal tip of postmarginal vein (Fig. 12C).

Figure 12. 

Cretaxenomerus mirari, holotype A dorsal habitus with magnified view of clava B antenna, lateral C fore wing D ovipositor complex and terminal metasomal segments. Scale bars: 500 µm (A); 200 µm (C, D).

Female. Body length 1212. Coloration dark brown to black, slight metallic coloration on abdomen may be an artifact. Scape, legs and ovipositor sheaths dark brown, tip of ovipositor sheaths light brown. Wings lightly brownish infumated, wing venation brown. Head. Unusually long and low, about 1.5× as wide as long and low, about 0.5× as high as broad (Fig. 12A). Eye broadly ovoid, but horizontally oriented (longer than height). Temple about ¼ as long as eye. Clypeus not deeply inflected. Epistomal sulcus and malar sulcus present. Toruli closer to inner eye margin than to each other. Antenna. Length 699, approximately 0.6× as long as body. Scape 2.85× as long as broad. All flagellomeres longer than wide, fu_1-3 3.0× as long as wide, fu_4-10 about 2.0× as long as wide (Fig. 12B). Clava 2-segmented, length 88 (Fig. 12B). MPS present on all segments, slightly askew, not extending beyond apical edge of segment. Micropilosity laterally on cl_1-2 and fu_9-10. Mesosoma. Length 342. Mesonotum wider than long and 0.6× length of mesosoma. Prepectus narrow, dorsally hidden from dorsoposterior edge of lateral panel of pronotum. Axillae advanced. Mesopleuron obscured due to angle of specimen. Mesoscutellum short, 0.2× as long as mesonotum (Fig. 12A:msct). Dorsellum narrow and band-like, ¾ length of mesoscutellum. Propodeum sloped, roughly 2× as long as mesonotum (Fig. 12A:prp). Wings. Base of the fore wing including speculum with sparser pilosity than disc. Fore wing length 1046, 2.7× as long as wide. Longest marginal seta of fore wing 39. Costal cell about 2× as long as marginal vein and postmarginal vein (Fig. 12C). Cubital vein very long, approximately ⅓ length of fore wing, strongly pigmented. Basal vein length 44, strongly pigmented. Submarginal vein length 367, costal cell of fore wing well developed. Marginal vein slightly longer than ¼ length of submarginal vein; strongly pigmented and broad, width 23. Stigmal vein short, length 33. Uncus with 4 uncal sensillae (Fig. 12C). Postmarginal vein tapering towards wing margin, ⅔ length of marginal vein. Hind wing ⅗ length of fore wing, 6.7× longer than wide. Longest marginal seta of hind wing 34. Venation and hamuli of hind wing not further than ½ length of wing (Fig. 12C). Legs. Basitarsal comb present on fore leg. Basitarsomere equal in length to tarsomere 2–4 on fore leg. Dense setation along hind basitarsus (Fig. 12D). Metasoma length 563, ≈1.6× as long as mesosoma. Constricted petiole. Mt_2-7 countable. Hypopygium elongate, reaching nearly to end of metasoma. Elongate, medial, longitudinal setal row down ventrum of metasoma. Syntergum about 0.5× as long as metasoma and reaching up to about ¾ of ovipositor sheath length, broadened after insertion of cerci, spatulate (Fig. 12D). Ovipositor ejected, about equal in length to metasoma; ovipositor tip with 3 teeth; ovipositor sheaths equal in length to ovipositor, stalk-like basally before widening distally and becoming spatulate with marginal setation (Fig. 12D).

Male. Unknown.

Holotype : female, Hammana / Mdeyrij, Caza Baabda, Mouhafazet Mount Lebanon; lower Barremian. In amber mounted in Canada Balsam. Deposited at Natural History Museum of the Lebanese University, accession/specimen number: 157G.

Specimen complete, but terminal segments of the right antenna fragmented, and tarsal segments of the left fore leg longitudinally split; partial detachment from the amber along the right side of thorax and eye margin. Streaks in the amber make it difficult to clearly assess some characters.

The specific epithet is derived from the Latin ‘mirari’, which is the origin of the English ‘mirage’ in regards to the haziness of the specimen within the amber from the taphonomic process.

Cretaxenomerus mirari shares several characters with P. curvus, namely the presence of 3 claval segments and a syntergal protrusion which is roughly ¾ of length of the ovipositor. While it is possible that P. mirari has an articulating syntergum which is simply not observable due to taphonomic processes, a postmarginal vein that is longer than the stigmal vein and a clear costal cell, would suggest that P. mirari is a distinct species for the sake of identification and until more specimens are discovered which may contradict its current placement.

Cretaxenomerus tenuipenna can be differentiated from all other species in the genus by the following combination of characters: scape conspicuously long, about as long as eye height, fu_1-2 about 2× as long as wide, especially fu₁ much narrower than pedicel, at least fu₄ only slightly longer than wide and wider than pedicel, terminal claval segments loosely associated, without distinct fusion between cl₁ and fl₁₁. Fore wing slender, 3.5× longer than wide. Foretibia without basitarsal comb. Propodeum not strongly sloped.

Female. Body length 1256. Body dark brown, appendages light brown, may be taphonomic artifact. Wings hyaline with some slight brown infumation distally from basal vein, uniformly pilose. Right fore leg tarsal segments except about half of basitarsus and left hind tarsal segments 25 are missing, left antenna after pedicel and ovipositor broken on several places, both antennae with some cracks on scape and pedicel. Head. Globular, approximately equal in length and width (Fig. 13A). Face equal in length to frons. Temple rather short, about ⅕ as long as eye length. Eye circular, about as high as pedicel length (Fig. 13A). Toruli equal distance from one another as to inner eye margin. No scrobal depression. Dental formula 3:3; mandibles on higher plane than face. Maxillary palps at least 2-segmented. Antenna long, more than half the length of body (712). Scape elongated, about 3.4× as long as wide and 4× as long as length of pedicel (Fig. 13A). Fu_1-2 elongate relative to other funicles, both segments about 2× as long as wide, length of fu₁ 72 (Fig. 13C). Fu₁ much narrower than pedicel; at least fu₄ only slightly longer than wide and wider that pedicel. Clava 1-segmented, undifferentiated from prior flagellomeres (Fig. 13C). MPS extending past apical margin of flagellomeres. Pilosity uniform on all segments. Mesosoma elongate, longer than high; length 390. Mesonotum roughly ½ length of mesosoma. Mesoscutum convex. Mesopleuron elongate, 1.6× as long as wide. Mesoscutellum 0.4× length of mesonotum. Metanotum band-like, 0.4× length of mesoscutellum (Fig. 13A). Propodeum elongate and sloped roughly 30°, roughly ½ length of mesonotum. Wings. Fore wings elongate, 3.5× longer than wide, length 1041, width 292. Longest marginal seta 44. Basal vein and cubital vein ephemeral (Fig. 13D). Basal vein length 47. Submarginal vein length 399. Marginal vein about ⅜ length of submarginal vein and narrow; width 19. Stigma short, length 28. Postmarginal vein narrow, ½ length of marginal vein. Hind wing slender and elongate, 13× as long as wide, 0.5× as long as fore wing length (Fig. 13D). Ventral marginal setae of hind wing long, 0.8× width of hind wing. Legs. Basitarsus curved in first third; basitarsal comb of fore leg not visible. Hind trochanter as long as hindcoxa (Fig. 13A:cx₃). Metasoma elongate, 1.5× as long as mesosoma. Attached to mesosoma narrowly by clear petiole (Fig. 13A:ptl). Mt_2-6 tergal segments countable. Syntergum 0.6× length of metasoma. Ovipositor length 620, 1.2× length of gaster; ovipositor about 2× as long as syntergum(Fig. 13B); ovipositor tip with at least 3 teeth visible; ovipositor sheaths uniformly flattened along its entire length (Fig. 13B).

Figure 13. 

Cretaxenomerus tenuipenna, holotype A lateral habitus B ovipositor and terminal metasomal segments C antenna, lateral D fore and hind wing (showing beneath fore wing). Scale bars: 500 µm (A); 250 µm (D); 100 µm (B, C). pl₁ = propleuron; ptl = petiole.

Male. Unknown.

Holotype : female, Hammana / Mdeyrij, Caza Baabda, Mouhafazet Mount Lebanon; lower Barremian. In amber mounted in Canada Balsam. Deposited at Natural History Museum of the Lebanese University, accession/specimen number: 623I.

Specimen relatively complete; antennal segments partly fragmented and separated from taphonomic process; syntergum and ovipositor complex also fragmented; tarsal segments missing beyond basitarsus on left fore- and hind leg. Streaks and ripples in the amber obscured some characters during imaging.

The specific epithet is a portmanteau of the Latin ‘tenuis’ for narrow and ‘penna’ for feather in regards to its slender wings.

Cretaxenomerus tenuipenna has several similarities with C. brevis, most pronounced being the shortened syntergum as well as C. vitreus in antennal structure. However, the wing shape would indicate it is likely a closely associated but distinct species.

Cretaxenomerus deangelis differs from all other species in the genus by the following combination of characters: shape of its head capsule, longer than wide in dorsal view. Mesoscutum with notauli. Fore wing basal cell narrow and marginal setation short. Syntergum short.

Female. Body length 1179. Head capsule light-brown, body and appendages dark brown, aside from first two flagellomeres. Wing venation dark brown. Wing’s damaged just distal to junction of smv and bv, first 2 flagellomeres damaged. Wings with slight brown infumation, uniform pilosity. Head elongate, about 1.3× as long as wide, wider than mesosoma in dorsal view (Fig. 14A). Temple large, at most ¼ as long as eye length. Occiput very narrow and concave, about ⅓ as wide as head width. Malar sulcus well developed, connecting lower margin of eye and oral fossa. Antenna insertion around midline of eye. Frons protruding, on higher plane than face. Clypeus inflected. Mandibles on higher plane than clypeal margin. Antennae length 743. Scape probably short and broad, not visible due to damage. Fu_1-6 narrow, longer than wide, but not elongate, equal in length to fu_7-10. Clava 2-segmented, claval length 95. MPS present on all segments (Fig. 14C). Fine pilosity present, adpressed at 45° on all segments aside from pedicel and scape relative to surface. Mesosoma length 466. Mesoscutum 2.4× as long as mesoscutellum. Notauli well visible for its entire length. Prepectus narrow, dorsally overlapped by posterior-most corner of lateral panel of pronotum, lateraly seen as narrow sclerite, well separated from mesonotum. Transscutal articulation medially present. Mesodiscrimen deeply invaginated. Tegula visible, bare of setation (Fig. 14A:teg). Lateral panel of metanotum with flange. Propodeum approximately equal in length to mesoscutellum (Fig. 14A). Wings. Fore wing length 1047, 3.3× as long as wide. Longest marginal seta length 22. Costal cell present, nearly equal in width to basal cell (Fig. 14B). Cubital vein length 229, pigmented along the entire length. Basal vein ⅕ length of cubital vein, strongly pigmented and distally curved. Basal cell of fore wing proximally narrowed, wider at junction of M+Cu. Submarginal length 380. Marginal vein with uniform thickness along its length, short, about 0.2 as long as submarginal vein (Fig. 14B). Stigmal vein length 42, stigma and uncus present; 6 uncal sensillae present. Postmarginal vein equal in length to marginal vein; tapering distally (Fig. 14B). Hind wings obscured by fore wings. Legs. Basitarsomere of all legs elongate, slightly shorter than tarsomere 2–4. Basitarsal comb of fore leg present (Fig. 14D:btc) with a blunt protuberance present laterobasally (Fig. 14D:btn). Metasoma length 505. Mt_2-7 plus syntergum visible, syntergum about 0.15× as long as the rest of gaster, broadly attached to Mt₇, articulation not visible (Fig. 14A). Genitalia. Ovipositor only slightly extended from body and slightly longer than syntergum, no more than Mt₇ plus syntergum length (Fig. 14A).

Figure 14. 

Cretaxenomerus deangelis, holotype A dorsal habitus B fore wing venation and cells C antenna, lateral D fore leg basitarsus and tibia. Scale bars: 250 µm (A); 200 µm (B); 100 µm (C); 50 µm (D).

Male. Unknown.

Holotype : female, Hammana / Mdeyrij, Caza Baabda, Mouhafazet Mount Lebanon; lower Barremian. In amber mounted in Canada Balsam. Deposited at Natural History Museum of the Lebanese University, accession/specimen number 810H.

Due to the taphonomic process both antennae are detached from the head and both scapes, pedicels and first two flagellomeres are broken; the mesosoma is slightly deformed dorsolaterally; both wings are broken, the left wing just before the basal vein and the right wing beyond the basal vein, and with some additional ruptures on the disc of both wings.

The specific epithet is a patronym in honor of Eric Deangelo, an early mentor and professor of one of the authors (JU) who introduced him to biology and research.

Due to the orientation of the specimen in the amber, the tip of the metasoma is obscured, so the syntergum could not be clearly examined, but there does not appear to be an elongate syntergum. Because C. deangelis apparently lacks an elongate syntergum, similar to Protoita but unlike other Cretaxenomerus females, this feature might support it’s placement into a third genus, although it shares more similarities with Cretaxenomerus species than Protoita. Without additional specimens to examine, we consider it premature to erect a third genus for the specimen due to its damaged state and obscured syntergum and place it tentatively in Cretaxenomerus. Even though the lack of an elongate syntergum is shared with Protoita, this lack of an apomorphy does not justify placement within Protoita as it shares more diagnostic features with Cretaxenomerus such as body length, a petiolar constriction at the waist and a head which is not wider than long in dorsal view.

Cretaxenomerus jankotejai can be differentiated from all other species in the genus by the following combination of characters: large body length, broad head, which is nearly 2× as wide as long (Fig. 15A), and a distinctly broadened posterior portion of its elongate syntergum (Fig. 15B:Mt₈₊₉).

Figure 15. 

Cretaxenomerus jankotejai, holotype A dorsal habitus, with inset showing close up of terminal flagellomeres B ovipositor complex with elongate syntergum C mesotibia and tarsus showing tarsal length. Scale bars: 500 µm (A); 100 µm (B, C). ccs = cercal sensilla.

Female. Body length 1490, uniformly dark brown in coloration, eyes white, wings hyaline with dense pilosity along wing disc, sparser at speculum. Head globulose, length 160, 2× as wide as long (Fig. 15A). Ocelli large, LOL about equal to OOL. Toruli slightly closer to one another than inner eye margin. Malar sulcus present. Maxilary palps 2–3 segments. Antenna length 776. Fu_1-3 2× as long as wide, fu_4-10 about 1.5× as long as wide (Fig. 15A). Clava 2 segmented, undifferentiated from funicles (Fig. 15A-inset). MPS present on all flagellomeres, as single long sensillae around circumference of segment in single row (Fig. 15A-inset). Metasoma length 370. Lateral panel of pronotum large and triangular. Mesonotum without notauli. Mesoscutum about 1.5× as long as mesoscutellum. Prepectus visible as a narrow strip in anterior half of mesopleuron. Mesopleuron dorsoventrally elongate. Axillulae striate. Metanotum short, length 30, medially overlapped by mesoscutellum (Fig. 15A). Wings. Obscured by malformation around specimens, make measurements of wing length not possible. Costal cell narrow. Basal vein short, strongly pigmented. Cubital vein lightly pigmented anterior to junction with basal vein and more strongly pigmented posterior to junction. Submarginal vein length 259. Marginal vein broad, ⅓ length of submarginal vein (Fig. 15A). Postmarginal vein very short, equal in length to shortened stigmal vein. Legs. Basitarsomere of all legs very long, approximately equal in length to following 4 tarsomeres combined (Fig. 15C). Tarsomere 4 noticeably shorter than others on all legs. Protibial calcar simple; basitarsal comb of fore leg present. Metasoma length 553, 917 with syntergum. Clear number of metasomal segments obscured. Metasoma connected with mesosoma by narrow petiolus (Fig. 15A). Syntergum widest in the posterior ⅓ of its length (Fig. 15B). Cerci with 3 cercal sensillae (Fig. 15B:ccs). Ovipositor extending only slightly beyond length of syntergum; ovipositor sheaths narrow basally before becoming spatulate in the posterior ¼ of its length.

Male. Unknown.

Holotype : female, Hammana / Mdeyrij, Caza Baabda, Mouhafazet Mount Lebanon; lower Barremian. In amber mounted in Canada Balsam. Deposited at Natural History Museum of the Lebanese University, accession/specimen number: 972A.

Specimen complete; dorsum of head partially detached; a large transverse crack in the amber obscures portions of the metasoma distally.

Nel and Azar (2005) described the elongate syntergum and associated ovipositor complex as a “tubular structure”, and suggested it was an early variant of the unique telescoping ovipositor system of Platygastroidea. Reexamination of the specimens indicates that this structure is not tubular but shaped as a narrow channel and the presence of frass at the end of it suggests it is the true ending of the abdomen and alimentary canal rather than the ovipositor, which is clearly seen on (Fig. 15B). Along with the wing venation and tarsal characters we transfer Cretaxenomerus jankotejai from Scelionidae to Protoitidae.