Aspidopleura
| Aspidopleura Temporal range:
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Scientific classification 
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| Domain: | Eukaryota |
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Arthropoda |
| Class: | Insecta |
| Order: | Hymenoptera |
| Family: | Eupelmidae |
| Genus: | †Aspidopleura Gibson, 2009 |
| Species: | †A. baltica
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| Binomial name | |
| †Aspidopleura baltica Gibson, 2009
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Aspidopleura is an
History and classification
Aspidopleura is known from only two fossils, the
paleoentomology collections in New York City, USA.[1] The specimens of Aspidopleura baltica were first studied by Gary A.P. Gibson, with his 2009 type description being published in the journal ZooKeys.[1] The generic name wash coined by Gary Gibson as a combination of the supposed Greek words aspido meaning "shield" and pleuro, meaning "side". This is in reference to the shape and overall structure of the acropleuron. The proper words for "shield" and "side" in Greek are however ἀσπίς (aspis) and πλευρόν (pleuron) or πλευρά (pleura).[3] The specific epithet "baltica" was designated as a reference to the origin of the specimens in amber from the Baltic region.[1]
Description
Aspidopleura baltica is 4.2 millimetres (0.17 in) in length when the
forewings are hyaline in coloration with a large brown spot covering the area behind the marginal and postmarginal veins but fading towards the wing apex.[1]
In general Aspidopleura does not closely resemble extant members of the subfamily Neanastatinae, with a very large
frenum. These features are closer in appearance to females of the subfamily Eupelminae. However the sine patterning on the legs of Aspidopleura are much closer to that of extant Neanastatinae.[1]
Although the life habit of Aspidopleura baltica is unknown, the short length of the ovipositor and shape of the mandibles, both similar to the genus parasitic on insect eggs.[1]
References
- ^ doi:10.3897/zookeys.20.161. Archived from the originalon 2010-09-22. Retrieved 2010-03-30.
- PMID 19570786.
- ^ Liddell, H.G. & Scott, R. (1940). A Greek-English Lexicon. revised and augmented throughout by Sir Henry Stuart Jones. with the assistance of. Roderick McKenzie. Oxford: Clarendon Press.