The first Mesozoic Zoraptera (Insecta). American Museum novitates ; no. 3362

Abstract

The earliest representatives of the polyneopteran insect order Zoraptera are described and figured. Four species, representing both alate and apterous morphs, are preserved in Cretaceous amber from Myanmar (Burma) and are the first fossil records of the order from the Old World and the Mesozoic. Zorotypus cretatus, new species, is represented by an apterous individual of indeterminate sex whereas Z. nascimbenei, new species, is represented by an alate female and Z. acanthothorax, new species, is known from an alate male. Xenozorotypus burmiticus, new genus and species, is represented by an alate male and possesses distinct plesiomorphies suggesting that it may be sister to all other zorapterans (Recent and extinct). Based on some peculiar apomorphies of the metafemoral and terminalic structure as well as wing venation it is placed in a separate genus. These species, particularly Z. cretatus, Z. acanthothorax, and Z. nascimbenei, are remarkably similar to living zorapterans, which indicates antiquity of the genus Zorotypus and the order, the latter perhaps Lowermost Mesozoic in origin. Phylogeny and classification of Polyneoptera is briefly reviewed, and a list of zorapterans and their distributions is updated along with general comments on the evolution of the order.