An unusual, primitive piesmatid (Insecta, Heteroptera) in Cretaceous amber from Myanmar (Burma) ; American Museum novitates, no. 3611

Abstract

Cretopiesma suukyiae, new genus and species, is described, based on a unique female specimen in mid-Cretaceous (c. 100 myo) amber from northern Myanmar. Features of C. suukyiae unique for the small Recent family Piesmatidae include a long, protrudent clypeus, a dorsal carina of thehead, lack of "jugal" lobes/appendices, widely separated coxae, very large scutellum, and the venation of the corium; some of these are plesiomorphic and shared with Aradidae. C. suukyiaepossesses the cuticular areolation and propleural cavities distinctive to Piesmatidae. Phylogeneticanalysis of Recent and fossil genera of piesmatids resulted in a cladogram with Cretopiesma assister group to the remainder of the family. Relationships of this unusual species and of Piesmatidae within Pentatomomorpha are discussed.