ZOBODAT - www.zobodat.at Zoologisch-Botanische Datenbank/Zoological-Botanical Database Digitale Literatur/Digital Literature Zeitschrift/Journal: Denisia Jahr/Year: 2006 Band/Volume: 0019 Autor(en)/Author(s): Popov Yuri A. Artikel/Article: New microphysids (Heteroptera, Cimicomorpha, Microphysidae) of the Baltic Eocene amber from the collection of Ernst Heiss 571-579 © Biologiezentrum Linz/Austria; download unter www.biologiezentrum.at New microphysids (Heteroptera, Cimicomorpha, Microphysidae) of the Baltic Eocene amber from the collection of Ernst Heiss1 Y.A. POPOV Abstract: Seven pieces of Baltic amber containing inclusions of Microphysidae from the collection of Ernst Heiss (Innsbruck, Austria) were studied; five of them are described here as new species of the genus Loricula (sensu lato). A key of the fossil species of this genus from Baltic and Ukrainian amber is presented. Key words: Baltic amber, Heteroptera, Loricula, Microphysidae, species novae, Ukrainian amber. Introduction with members of the family Anthocoridae (especially with Oriini which show the This article is the continuation of a se- smallest size). The main morphological ries of papers on fossil microphysid bugs characteristics which could help recognize from various insectiferous fossil resins, in them (except small size) are as follows: 2- particular from Baltic (Prussian Formation), segmented tarsi, one cell with one or two Ukrainian (Rovno), and Saxonian (Bitter- veins branching from the cell and almost feldian) amber, mainly found in different transparent hemelytra. European museums and private collections of Austria, Denmark, Germany, Poland, Most probably the first fossil micro- Russia, and Baltic countries. Microphysidae physid was described as Pachymerus senius are a small family (about 30 recent species) GERMAR & BERENDT in the subfamily Rhy- of very small bugs (not more than 3 mm) parochrominae of Lygaeidae (GERMAR & most of them distributed in Palearctic and a BERENDT 1856). It was discovered when I few in Nearctic regions. Microphysids are examined old bug types of GERMAR & usually found in the litter on tree bark, on BERENDT (1856) in the collections of the branches and trunks of old trees often cov- Paläontologisches Museum Berlin during ered by mosses or lichens and also in ant- my visit in 2005. The first record of a fossil hills. They are quite active predators, suck- species of Microphysidae, later described as ing small arthropods, like mites, springtails, Loricula ceranowiczae POPOV from Baltic am- aphids, psocids, psyllids, and some other ber (POPOV 2004), was reported by KULICKA arthropods. Looking through numerous het- et al. (1996). To date, four species of the eropteran inclusions, I recently discovered genus Loricula, sensu mihi (L. perkovskyi that microphysids are not as rare as expect- PUTSHKOV & POPOV, L. ceranowiczae ed and that they are probably one of the nu- POPOV, L. damzeni POPOV and L. pericarti merous groups of Heteroptera in Baltic and POPOV) were described from Baltic and Saxonian amber like Cylapinae or Isome- Ukrainian amber (PUTSHKOV & POPOV topinae of the family Miridae. One of the 2003; POPOV 2004). reasons for this poor knowledge of the fossil Revising other microphysid inclusions Microphysidae is their striking resemblance from the rich private collection of the well- Denisia 19, zugleich Kataloge der OÖ. Landesmuseen 1Meinem lieben Freund Prof. Dr. Ernst Heiss zum 70. Geburtstag gewidmet. Neue Serie 50 (2006), 571–579 571 © Biologiezentrum Linz/Austria; download unter www.biologiezentrum.at known Austrian heteropterologist Ernst ladi nov.sp., as two specimens of these Heiss, I also discovered five new species species are represented also by true whose description and pictures are given be- macropterous forms which is not typical for low. Among other pieces of this collection recent microphysids. there were also two more microphysid spec- One should also pay attention to the imens: one of them belongs to the sub- fact, that in this collection the first fossil macropterous female of Loricula (Eoceno- cimicomorphan bug (BB MP HE-1) belongs physa) damzeni POPOV (Fig. 8), whose sub- to a small tropical relict family Plokiophili- brachypterous form has been described ear- dae (Popov in prep.), which earlier was de- lier (POPOV 2004), and the other represents scribed as a subfamily of Microphysidae a new taxon which will be described else- (CHINA 1953), but was later upgraded to where. The holotypes are deposited in the family rank by CARAYON (1961) and sup- collection of E. Heiss (Innsbruck, Austria). ported by Sˇ TYS (1962). It should also be noted that there are well developed ocelli in females (somewhat Systematic part larger than in males) among extinct micro- physids as Loricula (Eocenophysa) damzeni Order Hemiptera POPOV (the first submacropterous form, BB Suborder Heteroptera D HE-3), Loricula (Myrmericula) ocellata Infraorder Cimicomorpha nov.sp. and Loricula (Myrmericula) samlandi Superfamily Miroidea nov.sp.. Such ocelli are unknown among the Family Microphysidae DOHRN 1859 extant Microphysidae. All fossil micro- Subfamily Microphysinae DOHRN 1859 physid females from Baltic amber which I (Type genus Loricula CURTIS 1833) have examined to date have well visible Genus Loricula CURTIS 1833 ocelli, also Loricula (Myrmedobia) kerneg- Subgenus Loricula CURTIS 1833 gerorum Popov in prep.. Most probably at Subgenus Loricula POPOV 2004: 99 that time females have not yet evolved re- (stat. nov.) Fig. 1: Loricula (L.) ablusa nov.sp.; duced ocelli. The above-mentioned speci- (Type species: Loricula pselaphiformis CURTIS holotype, male, BB MP HE-3; dorsal view. 1833) men (BB D HE-3) of L.(E.) damzeni POPOV is the first submacropterous form of a female Loricula (Loricula) ablusa nov.sp. among all known microphysids. Until now (Fig. 1, Photo 1) only one brachypterous female of this Material examined: Holotype, species was known with well preserved macropterous male, BB MP HE-3. Light-yel- cuneal fracture and developed membrane lowish rectangular piece of amber (18 x 15 (POPOV 2004). Not only the well developed mm). The specimen is dorsally and ventral- Photo 1: Loricula (L.) ablusa nov.sp.; ocelli characterize fossil females of Loricula ly clearly visible; antennae and legs are holotype, BB MP HE-3; dorsal view. (M.) ocellata nov.sp. and Loricula (M.) sam- complete, the latter are bent ventrally. Description: Body length from head to apices of hemelytra 2 mm. Generally ob- long, about 2.5x as long as wide. General colouration brownish; head and pronotum chestnut, eyes dark brown; hemelytra pale brown, except dark brown cuneus, mem- brane colourless. Dorsal surface more or less smooth, not punctate, covered with very short, quite dense, adpressed, pale hairs. Head relatively short, 0.77x as long as the pronotum, with 3 pairs of setae; ocelli quite small; preocular and ocular part of equal length; frons 1.2x as wide as the diam- eter of the eyes; rostrum thin, reaches al- most middle of mesosternum but not reach- 572 © Biologiezentrum Linz/Austria; download unter www.biologiezentrum.at ing mesocoxae; rostral segment II slightly lar part 0.12, ocular + postocular parts 0.12; extending over base of head, segments II width of eye 0.1; width of frons 0.125; an- and IV are of equal length, proportion of tennal segments I-IV: 0.09: 0.24: 0.25: 0.25; rostral segments I-IV: 3-10-10-9; antennae rostral segments I-IV: 0.05: 0.14: 0.14: 0.13; slender with distinct pilosity, segment II pronotum: length 0.325 (max.) and 0.25 covered with short, dense, adpressed hairs, (min.), width 0.25 (ant.) and 0.625 (post.); II and IV with some longer and sparse, length of open part of mesoscutum 0.075, of suberect hairs; segment II slightly thickened scutellum 0.175; length of hemelytron, cori- and almost of equal length as III and IV and um and cuneus (outer side): 1.4, 0.62 and about 0.7x as long as the diatone; propor- 0.38; length posterior legs: femora 0.51, tib- tions of antennal segments I-IV: 7-17-18-18. iae 0.57, tarsi 0.2 (0.04: 0.17). Pronotum with fine pilosity and two setae Etymology: From ablusus (lat.) = differ- anterolaterally; pronotum transverse, almost ent. twice as wide as long, lateral margins con- vex and distinctly constricted anteriorly, Comparison: This new species can be posterior margin 2.5x as wide as anterior easily distinguished from the other two one and strongly emarginated; collar narrow species of this subgenus (L. ceranowiczae and transversal impression distinct, callosity POPOV and L. finitima nov.sp.) by its differ- not expressed. Mesoscutum glabrous, quite ent shape of pronotum, pilose legs, and larg- short and 0.43x as long as the large scutel- er size. lum; the latter with a median basal impres- sion. Lateral margins of hemelytra almost Loricula (Loricula) finitima nov.sp. straight and parallel; external margin of (Fig. 2, Photo 2, 3) exocorium not expanded posteriorly; apex Material examined: Holotype, of large cuneus subacute; proportions of macropterous male, BB MP HE-5. Light-yel- hemelytron, corium and length of cuneus: lowish small piece of amber (8 x 7.3 mm) of 10-4.5-2.7; length of cuneus 0.27x as long as irregular, quadrangular shape. The specimen the hemelytra and 0.62x as long as the is dorsally and ventrally very clearly visible, Fig. 2: Loricula (L.) finitima nov.sp.; corium; membrane with one thickened vein antennae and legs complete, the latter bent holotype, male, BB MP HE-5; dorsal view. originating from one small cell (Fig. 1). Tib- ventrally. iae and femora of all legs quite slender and Description: Body length from head to pilose, particularly the tibiae, metatibiae apices of hemelytra 1.7 mm. Generally ob- straight with erect long hairs on inner side long, 2.9x as long as wide. General coloura- except on basal 1/4, their tarsi quite long, tion uniform yellow-brownish; head and 0.35x as long as the tibiae.