Proceedings of the Zoological Institute RAS Vol. 316, No. 3, 2012, рр. 193–202 УДК 595.722 NEW COCKROACHES (DICTYOPTERA: BLATTINA) FROM BALTIC AMBER, WITH THE DESCRIPTION OF A NEW GENUS AND SPECIES: STEGOBLATTA IRMGARDGROEHNI L.N. Anisyutkin1* and C. Gröhn2 1Zoological Institute of the Russian Academy of Sciences, Universitetskaya Emb. 1, 199034 Saint Petersburg, Russia; e-mail: [email protected] 2Bünebüttler Weg 7, D-21509 Glinde/Hamburg, Germany; e-mail: [email protected] ABSTRACT A new genus and species of cockroaches, Stegoblatta irmgardgroehni gen. et sp. nov. is described from Baltic Amber. The taxonomic position of the new genus is discussed and it is concluded that it belongs to the family Blaberidae. The male of Paraeuthyrrapha groehni (Corydiidae, Euthyrrhaphinae) is described for the first time. Key words: Baltic Amber, Blaberidae, cockroaches, Dictyoptera, Paraeuthyrrapha groehni, Stegoblatta irmgard- groehni gen. et sp. nov. НОВЫЕ ТАРАКАНЫ (DICTYOPTERA: BLATTINA) ИЗ БАЛТИЙСКОГО ЯНТАРЯ, С ОПИСАНИЕМ НОВОГО РОДА И ВИДА: STEGOBLATTA IRMGARDGROEHNI Л.Н. Анисюткин1* и К. Грён2 1Зоологический институт Российской академии наук, Университетская наб. 1, 199034 Санкт-Петербург, Россия; e-mail: [email protected] 2Bünebüttler Weg 7, D-21509 Glinde/Hamburg, Germany; e-mail: [email protected] РЕЗЮМЕ Новый род и вид тараканов (Stegoblatta irmgardgroehni gen. et sp. nov.) описывается из балтийского янта- ря. Обсуждается таксономическое положение нового рода, предположительно отнесенного к семейству Blaberidae. Впервые описывается самец Paraeuthyrrhapha groehni (Corydiidae, Euthyrrhaphinae). Ключевые слова: балтийский янтарь, Blaberidae, тараканы, Dictyoptera, Paraeuthyrrapha groehni, Stegoblatta irmgardgroehni gen. et sp. nov. INTRODUCTION Wichard 2010). The cockroach fauna from Baltic amber is more or less similar to the modern one in Baltic amber is one of the most famous sources of taxa composition (Shelford 1910, 1911; Weitshat fossil insects. Stratigraphically most of it is dated as and Wichard 2002). In this paper two peculiar cock- Late Eocene (Eskov 2002; Standke 2008) however roaches are described: Stegoblatta irmgardgroehni an older Mid-Eocene date was suggested based on gen. et sp. nov. (Blaberidae, subfamily placement the radioactive dating of Glauconite (Weitschat and uncertain) and previously unknown male of Paraeu- thyrrhapha groehni Anisyutkin, 2008 (Corydiidae, *Corresponding author / Автор-корреспондент Euthyrrhaphinae). 194 L.N. Anisyutkin and C. Gröhn MATERIAL AND METHODS from the superfamilies Corydioidea Saussure, 1864 or Blattoidea Latreille, 1810. The new genus is Insect amber inclusions were prepared according similar to the genus Euthyrrhapha Burmeister, 1838 to standard technique (Weitshat and Wichard 2002). (Corydiidae, Euthyrrhaphinae) in having entirely Pictures were taken with a WILD M20 microscope sclerotized tegmina, but clearly differs from it in the (photo lens: ZEISS Luminar 16mm, 40mm, 63mm) structure of wings, the strongly reduced armament of equipped with a Canon EOS 450D digital camera. tibiae, the completely absent styli, and the structure The authors follow classification of Beccaloni and of cerci. In representatives of Euthyrrhaphinae wings Eggleton (2011). lack an appendicular field, tibial armament and styli The term “tegmenised” is used to denote the are well developed, cerci are comparatively long, with strongly sclerotized forewings with completely lost bead-like segments (see Bohn and van Harten 2006; venation. Anisyutkin 2008 for details). All examined material, including holotype, is The new genus readily differs from the fossil currently retained in the collection of C. Gröhn and Umenocoleidae Chen et Tian, 1973 in the structure will be deposited in the museum of Geological-Palae- of the pronotum with large paranota (Figs 1A, 2A, B, ontological Institute of the University of Hamburg 3B), the tegmina without “cup-like cells” (Figs 2A, (GPIH, Hamburg, Germany). 3C, D), and the presence of an appendiculate field (Figs 1A, 2A, 3D). In representatives of Umenocolei- SYSTEMATICS dae the paranota are reduced, the tegmina equipped with a very characteristic “cup-like cells” and the Family Blaberidae Brunner von Wattenwyl, 1865 appendicular field is absent (see Vršanský et al. 2002; Subfamily incertae sedis Vršanský 2003). Genus Stegoblatta gen. nov. In the very diverse family Ectobiidae [= Blattel- lidae, see Beccaloni and Eggleton (2011)] represen- Type species: Stegoblatta irmgardgroehni sp. nov. tatives of the genera Anaplecta Burmeister, 1838, Etymology: The name originates from the Latin Anaplectella Hanitsch, 1928, Plectoptera Saussure, “stego” (roof) and “blatta” (cockroach). The gender 1864, and Prosoplecta Saussure, 1864 are somewhat is feminine. similar to the Stegoblatta gen. nov. in the structure of Differential diagnosis. The new genus is defined more or less sclerotized fore wings with variably re- by the following characters: duced venation and the hind wings with more or less 1. Tegmina (fore wings) transformed into elytra: developed appendiculate field. The genera Anaplecta entirely sclerotized, with reduced venation (Figs 1A, and Anaplectella differ from the new genus in having B, 2A, B, 3C, D); the less tegmenised fore wings with at least main 2. Appendiculate field (sensu Rehn 1951) of hind veins visible and the presence of styli (Roth 1990, wings well developed (Figs 1A, a.f., 2A, 3D); 1996). In Anaplecta javanica Saussure, 1895 hypan- 3. Armament of tibiae reduced (Figs 1B, 2B); drium probably lacks styli (Hanitsch 1928), but this 4. Tarsal segments short, with well developed eu- species readily differs from the Stegoblatta gen. nov. plantulae and arolia (Figs 1B, 2B); in the shape of the pronotum and the visible vena- 5. Hypandrium rounded, styli entirely absent tion on tegmina (Hanitsch 1928). The genus Proso- (Figs 1B, 2B, D). plecta differs from the new genus in the structure Taken separately, these characters are not unique of hypandrium: i.e. the clearly visible styli and the and occur in several taxa of modern cockroaches. deeply incised caudal margin of hypandrium (Roth However the complex of characters listed above 1991, 1994). The genus Plectoptera differs from the is unique for the suborder Blattina Latreille, 1810 genus Stegoblatta gen. nov. in the more or less oval (= Blattodea Brunner von Wattenwyl, 1882, cock- body shape and the developed interstylar protrusion roaches sensu stricto). of hypandrium (Rehn and Hebard 1927; Pruna 1974; Taxonomic position. The taxonomic position of Anisyutkin 2009). the genus Stegoblatta gen. nov. is uncertain. The loss of styli occurs in both families Ectobiidae The presence of a well developed appendiculate and Blaberidae. This state appears independently in field (Figs 1A, a.f., 2A, 3D) exclude the new genus several ectobiid genera, which were examined by Cockroaches from Baltic Amber 195 Roth (1989, 1993) and otherwise clearly not related reduced tibial armament (clearly visible in Phoraspis to Stegoblatta gen. nov. Among the blaberid genera, spp.) and absence of styli (present in Phoraspis spp.). the styli loss in all representatives of the subfam- The new genus is somewhat similar to some genera ily Panesthiinae Brunner von Wattenwyl, 1865 and of Perisphaeriinae in the shape of pronotum (com- some representatives of Perisphaeriinae Brunner von pare Figs 1A, 2A, 3B, C and figs 23, 29, 31, 32, 60 in Wattenwyl, 1865 e.g. in Perisphaerus punctatus Bey- Anisyutkin 2003), structure of tarsi and hypandrium. Bienko, 1969 (Anisyutkin 2003). The very special- The new genus readily differs from all known extant ized Panesthiinae are entirely dissimilar morphologi- representatives of the Perisphaeriinae in the presence cally from Stegoblatta gen. nov. (Roth 1977). of an appendicular field and entirely tegmenised fore The family Ectobiidae, including the above men- wings. It should be noted, that Stegoblatta gen. nov. tioned genera, is characterized by the well developed seemingly lacks lateral carinae on the ventral side of armament of tibiae and comparatively long tarsal the pronotum. The presence of lateral carinae may segments. These structures in Stegoblatta gen. nov. represent a synapomorphy of the subfamilies Pa- are noticeably different (Figs 1B, 2B). The compara- ranauphoetinae, Perisphaeriinae, and Panesthiinae tively short legs, the strongly reduced tibial and fem- (Anisyutkin 2003). oral armament and the noticeably shortened tarsal The following two alternative hypotheses on segments are characteristic of the family Blaberidae. the relationships of the Stegoblatta gen. nov. may be The genera somewhat similar to the genus Stegob- proposed: either the new genus is a highly advanced latta gen. nov. can be found in the family Blaberidae. representative of some extant subfamily, most likely Such genera as Diploptera Saussure, 1864, Diplop- Epilamprinae or Diplopterinae, or it represent more terina Princis, 1963, Notolampra Saussure, 1862, basal offshot on the phylogenetic tree of the family Phlebonotus Saussure, 1862, Phoraspis Serville, 1831, Blaberidae. Additional data on the morphology of the and Thorax Saussure, 1862 are characterized by the Stegoblatta gen. nov. and extant blaberids are badly completely tegmenised fore wings, the more or less needed to support each of the above mentioned hy- shortened tarsal segments with well developed eu- potheses. plantulae and the more or less weakened armament Included species. The type species only. of tibiae. These genera belong to the subfamilies Dip- lopterinae