A new genus of Apsilocephalidae (Diptera) in Mid-Cretaceous Burmese amber
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.37819/biosis.002.01.0091Keywords:
Asiloidea, Burmese amber, fossils, Myanmar, taxonomyAbstract
A new genus and species of apsilocephalid flies, Cascomixticus tubuliferous gen. et sp. nov. (Diptera: Asiloidea: Apsilocephalidae) is described from Burmese amber. Assignment to the Apsilocephalidae is based on the wing venation that is very similar to extant members of the family. The present fossil differs from known genera of this family by a long labellum bearing tactochemical papillae, a long tubular hypopharynx and a pointed labrum as well as the structure of the scape and pedicel. The long, tubular hypopharynx may have been used to obtain nectar from angiosperm flowers, however the function of the sharp-tipped labrum is unknown.
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