A new enigmatic cyclostome parasitoid wasp (Hymenoptera, Braconidae, Rhyssalinae) with unusual ovipositor from Baltic amber

Abstract

A new enigmatic genus and species presumably belonging to the cyclostome braconid parasitoid subfamily Rhyssalinae, Electroncophanes laticauda Belokobylskij & Zaldívar-Riverón gen. et sp. nov., are described and illustrated from the late Eocene Baltic amber. This new genus is characterised by having a wide and laterally compressed ovipositor, a unique character in the cyclostome braconids, and distally thickened ovipositor sheaths. It also has the fore wing with a postfurcal position of the recurrent vein (m-cu), distally closed brachial (second subdiscal) cell, not interstitial parallel vein (Cu1a), and a long submedial (subbasal) cell of the hind wing. Electroncophanes gen. nov. is placed in the new rhyssaline tribe Electroncophanini tribus nov. The presence of the flat and wide ovipositor found in the new species is discussed.