A New Genus and Species of the Suborder Trogiomorpha (Insecta, Psocodea) from Mid-Cretaceous Amber of Myanmar

Simple Summary The insect order Psocodea is one of the common groups of the entomofauna from Cretaceous Burmese amber. These fossil species have shown numerous diagnostic characteristics common with the extant psocids. The psocodean suborder Trogiomorpha is considered the sister group of the other psocodean taxon. In this study, we describe a new genus that is tentatively placed into Trogiomorpha and consider it a close relative to the family Cormopsocidae. However, its familial placement is undetermined. This discovery will be a helpful contribution to understanding the ancestral characteristics of Psocodea. We established a new genus with a new species Brachyantennum spinosum Liang et Liu, gen. et sp. nov. from mid-Cretaceous Burmese Kachin amber. It is tentatively placed into the suborder Trogiomorpha, based on the strong external valve, the reduced dorsal and ventral valve, and the short subgenital plate covering the basal part of the external valve. This new genus is apparently close to the family Cormopsocidae, based on the well-developed and very long hindwing Sc vein. However, its familial placement is ambiguous and it can be excluded from the established families of Trogiomorpha by the presence of the tarsal ctenidiobothria on the mid- and hindleg.