A new genus of Empididae (Diptera) with enlarged postpedicels in mid-Cretaceous Burmese amber

ABSTRACT

A new genus and species of Empididae (Diptera) in mid-Cretaceous Burmese amber is described as Neoalavesia hadroceria gen. et sp. nov. in the subfamily Atelestinae. The male is characterised by its small size, unique wing venation with reduced cell dm and the greatly expanded postpedicels that may have been used as sexual attractants. A novel feature of the fossil is a small, elongate, glutinous structure containing numerous filiform, sperm-like bodies adjacent to the abdominal terminus.

KEYWORDS:

• Atelestidae
• Burmese amber
• Diptera
• Empididae
• postpedicels

Acknowledgments

The authors thank Roberta Poinar and two anonymous reviewers for comments on a previous draft of this manuscript.

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the authors.

Correction Statement

This article has been republished with minor changes. These changes do not impact the academic content of the article.