Abstract Two new stick insect nymphs, Pseudoperla scapiforma sp. nov. and Pseudoperla leptoclada sp. nov. in Archipseudophasmatidae of Phasmatodea, are described from the Upper Cretaceous Myanmar amber. Compared to Pseudoperla… Click to show full abstract
Abstract Two new stick insect nymphs, Pseudoperla scapiforma sp. nov. and Pseudoperla leptoclada sp. nov. in Archipseudophasmatidae of Phasmatodea, are described from the Upper Cretaceous Myanmar amber. Compared to Pseudoperla gracilipes Pictet & Berendt, 1854, the two new species have the following differential characters: flagellomeres significantly elongated, metanotum rectangular and median segment longer than metanotum. Furthermore, the mesonotum of Pseudoperla leptoclada sp. nov. is rectangular and considerably longer than pronotum vs. mesonotum is quadrate and slightly shorter than pronotum in P. gracilipes. In addition, a slight curvature in the profemora indicates the Cretaceous evolutionary origin of this important character of Euphasmatodea. These two new taxa not only broaden the diversity of Archipseudophasmatidae, but also dated this family back to the Upper Cretaceous.
               
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