Howard E. Evans.
Three New Cretaceous Aculeate Wasps (Hymenoptera).
Psyche 76:251-261, 1969.

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THREE NEW CRETACEOUS ACULEATE WASPS
( HYMENOPTERA)
BY HOWARD E. EVANS
Museum of Comparative Zoology
Aculeate Hymenoptera have been known from the Mesozoic only from the Upper Cretaceous wasp Cretavus sibiricus ( Sharov, 1957 ) and the ant Sphecomyr~na freyl, known from two workers from the lower part of the Upper Cretaceous (Wilson, Carpenter, and Brown, 1967). Wasps evidently quite similar to living forms are, however, known from the Green River shales, of Eocene age (Cockerell, 1922), as are several ants, and a diversity of wasps, ants, and bees occur in Baltic Amber. Thus it has seemed probable that the Aculeata underwent a radiation in the Cretaceous, although the scarcity of fossil insects from this period has made it difficult to document this radiation.
Quite recently three fossil wasps from Cretaceous deposits have come to my attention. These do indeed indicate that the Aculeata became quite diversified before the end of the Mesozoic. One of these wasps, which I have placed in the new genus Archisphex, has a generalized aculeate venation but is very probably a sphecid. Only one wing is preserved, but this is in good condition and is noteworthy as the first evidence of an aculeate to be found in Lower Cretaceous deposits. A second wasp, described in the new genus Lisponema, is an undoubted sphecid, having a specialized wing venation strikingly similar 'to that of the modern genus Spilomena (Pemphredoninae). It is known from a headless but otherwise well preserved specimen from Cedar Lake Amber (Manitoba, Canada). Another wasp in these same deposits is a bethyloid obviously related to the cuckoo wasps, which I have placed in the new genus Procleptes; it is also quite well preserved although lacking most of the wings. Thus there is now evidence that three diverse stocks of aculeates (sphecids, bethyloids, and ants) were present in the Cretaceous. Cretavus is usually assumed to be a scolioid (although there are certain unusual features of the wing), and eumenid wasps are known from the Eocene
(Evans, 1966, p. 394). Thus we may say that representatives of three superfamilies were certainly present in the Cretaceous, two others almost certainly. These include the ancestral stocks of all the social forms, since the vespids were surely derived from eumenid stock, the bees from a primitive sphecid perhaps not



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252 Psyche [September
greatly unlike Archisphex. Further discussion of phylogeny is de- ferred until after these specimens have been described. My own role in thesediscoveries has simply been to place them in the scientific record. The Lower Cretaceous Archisphex was collected by R. A. Crowson of the University of Glasgow and very kindly presented to Harvard University. The two specimens from Cedar Lake, Manitoba, were collected by I?. M. Carpenter, who also took a great deal of care in preparing the small pieces of amber so that the specimens could be studied in detail. These two specimens were first recognized as aculeates by Edgar Riek, of C.S.I.R.O. in Canberra, Australia, while he was sorting unworked material during a recent visit to Harvard. Various persons have advised me on the placement of these specimens, but I am particularly indebted to R. M. Bohart and A. S. Menke, who are currently preparing a revision of the genera of living Sphecidae. Archisphex, new genus
Based on a single nea,rly complete fore wing (Fig. I), the more critical features of which are as follows: costal cell present; stigma elongate, lower margin nearly straight, outer margin oblique, straight; marginal cell (cell RI) with its apex on the wing margin, not far from wing tip, and slightly appendiculate (i.e., RI extending beyond apex of cell) ; three fully formed submarginal cells and three fully formed discoidal cells present (i.e., veins Rs, 2 r-m, 3 r-m I m-cu, and 2 m-cu all complete), second recurrent vein (2 m-cu) curved basad so as to reach the second subma,rginal cell near its outer corner, first recurrent vein (I m-cu) almost interstitial with first intercubital (Rs) ; major wing veins (M and Cula) reaching outer wing margin; basal vein (M + Rs) only slightly oblique, its upper terminus at some distance from stigma; transverse median vein (cu-a) oblique, reaching media ( M + Cu) slightly basad of origin of basal vein; veins and stigma brown in color; wing membrane with close-set microtrichiae.
Type species : Archisphex crowsoni, new species The name Archisphex is simply Greek for "ancient wasp" and should not influence future students toward keeping this genus in the Sphecidae if new evidence suggests that it belongs elsewhere. For the present, I do regard this wasp as probably a sphecid, largely by a process of elimination from other families plus a close approxi- mation of the wing to certain living sphecids. These two considera- tions also provide
a measure of certainty that Archisphex is an



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19691 Evans - Cretaceous Wasps
Fig. 1. Archisfhex crowsoni n. sp., type specimen (traced from a photo- graph).
aculeate; a venation of this type is not approximated by any Symphyta or Terebrantia, but is very close to what might be regarded as the "basic pattern'' of venation for the Aculeata. The one unusual fea- ture, the curvature of the second recurrent vein to join the second submarginal cell, provides a major reason for placing it in the Sphecidae. However, unless the body is eventually found, it will never be possible to state unequivocally that it is a sphecid a,nd not a very generalized scolioid, trigonalid, or representative of some extinct family of wasps.
Evidence for eliminating Archisphex from other living families of wasps is as follows: The full complement of veins and cells makes it improbable that it belongs in the Bethyloidea or in such families as the Formicidae, Plumariidae, or Rhopalosomatidae; the nearly erect, straight basal vein further eliminates these three fami- lies and also (and especially) the Vespoidea. All Trigonalidae known to me have a more oblique basal vein as well as modifications of the submarginal cells, also a second recurrent vein which terminates in the third submarginal. I am not familiar with any Pompilidae or Apoidea in which the second recurrent curves basad to reach the second submarginal cell. Some Scolioidea have a venation very similar to this specimen, and in the males of Anthoboscinae and Thynninae the second recurrent vein does indeed often reach the second submarginal cell. However, in both these groups, as in most Scolioidea, there is an additional vein or crease beneath the stigma (regarded as I r), marking off a small apical part of the first sub- marginal cell.
There is no evidence whatever of this vein in Arch- isphex, leaving the family Sphecidae as the most likely possibility. Within the Sphecidae there are fairly numerous genera having this basic venation. A. S. Menke has suggested that this fossil may



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254 Psy c h e [September
represent a member of the Pemphredoninae, tribe Psenini, ~erhaps close to Psenulus. It is approximately the same size as living mem- bers of this genus and the venation is very similar indeed. As con-pared to Archisphex, Psenulus fuscipennis has a somewhat shorter and wider stigma, a slightly different slope to the basal and transverse median veins (but the two meet media in the same manner), a first recurrent vein which attains the inner corner of the second submarginal cell, and major veins (M and Cula) which reach the wing margin only as thin streaks. It is tempting to regard Archisphex as a pemphredonine, as the species to be described below, from the Upper Cretaceous, quite definitely belongs in that sub- family. However, generalized members of several other subfamilies have a venation sufficiently similar to this so that it is impossible to say that if Archisphex is a sphecid it is surely a pemphredonine. A basically similar venation occurs, for example, in the nysonnine genus Clitemnestra and in the sphecine genus Hepnichalybion (al- though the latter is a much larger wasp). Little more can be said about the possible position of Archisphex; we can only hope that other fossils will be discovered which will eventually tie it in with greater assurance to some group of wasps. Archisphex crowsoni, new species
Length of fore wing 5 mm; features as shown in Fig. I. I would Fig. 2. Lisponema singulah n. sp., wings of type specimen. In the specimen, the fore wings are somewhat curled, the hind wings beneath the fore wings; they are shown here as if drawn apart and flattened.



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19691 Evans - Cretaceous Wasps 255
assume that this wasp had a wing spa,n of about 12 mm and a body length of 7-9 mm. No color pattern is evident on the wing. Specimen from Wadhurst Clay, Quarry Hill Pit, Tunbridge, England (Lower Cretaceo~s).~ Collected by R. A. Crowson in 1939; MCZ no. 63 12.
Lisponema, new genus
Based on a single specimen in amber in nearly perfect condition except lacking nearly all of the head (Figs. 2, 3). The more striking features are as follows: body and legs slender, the latter devoid of spines ; tibia1 spur formula I -1 -2 ; claws weakly dentate; mesoscutum large, parapsidal furrows distinct, notauli vaguely indicated; abdomen slender, sessile; fore wings with a very large stigma; marginal cell (cell RI) measured along wing margin about as long as stigma, its apex curved away from wing margin and weakly appendiculate; two submarginal cells and two discoidal cells present (veins 3 r-m and 2 m-cu wholly absent), and in general veins and cells far removed from outer wing margin; hind wing with six rather large hamuli visible, veins Rs and M not extending beyond r-m, submedian cell elongate, its outer end (cu-a) rounded up to meet media at the origin of cubitus (i.e., where M passes up to meet r-m). Type species: Lisponema s'mgularis, new species The name Lisponema is an anagram of Spilomena, the living genus which it resembles most closely; however, it might equally well be taken to mean "smooth thread" (Greek lispos -I- nema), with reference to the very slender, smooth legs. This genus resembles Spilomenu so closely that it can be uniquivocally assigned to the family Sphecidae, subfamily Pemphredoninae, and to that section of the subfamily that includes Spilomena, Microstig??zius, Ammo- planus, and certain other genera. While the Pemphredoninae rank as one of the more generalized subfamilies of Sphecidae, these genera are considered to represent one of its more specialized elements. The specializations extend to larval characters and, in Microstig?nus, to nest type and probable sociality (Matthews, 1968). The species of Spilomena are solitary wasps that nest in cavities in wood and prey upon thrips. The very close resemblance of Lisponema to members of this genus suggests that it, too, nested in some type of pre-existing cavities; the slender, smooth legs, in particular, indicate that it did not dig in the soil.
'These relatively poorly known deposits are described by White (1928). The insect fragments from these beds have evidently not been monographed.



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Fig. 3.
Lh$onema singuZari$ n. sp., dorsal view of type specimen, wings omitted.
As compared to Spilomena barber;, Lis+onenza singularis has a slightly longer stigma, a marginal cell that curves away from the wing margin, first recurrent vein
(I m-cu) not at all interstitial
with first intercubital (Rs), M and Cul separating fairly close to transverse median vein (cu-a), and, in the hind wing, a submedian cell which is longer and more rounded apically. These differences seem to me great enough to justify generic status for Lisponema. Some Pemphredoninae are known in which the marginal cell curves away from the wing margin (e.g, Proto~ti~mus), although these differ in a number of other respects.
Lisponema singularis, new species
Length of body
(without most of head, which is ~nissing) 2.5 mm; length of forewing 1.7 mm. Body fuscous, with no evident maculations ; wings hyaline, with brown veins and stigma. Features of body as shown in Fig. 3; thoracic dorsum shining and with small, close punctures ; scutellum with a ltransverse basal groove; propodeurn with reticulate sculpturing, the deta,ils of which are obscure, laterally with two small dentiform projections on each side; legs smooth and slender, as figured, (the hind tibiae with some thin setae but no spines; wings as figured. Abdomen with six clearly visible segments



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19691 Evans - Cretaceous Wasps 257
and a small terminal projection which probably represents the sub- genital plate. (I believe this specimen is a male, even though only six abdominal segments can be detected.) Specimen in a small block of amber from Cedar Lake, Manitoba (Upper Cretaceous) .2 Collected by I?. M. Carpenter, MCZ no. 6875.
Prodeptes, new genus
Based on a single specimen in amber, in good condition although with some distortion and compression of the head and thorax, and with the wings absent beyond the basal fifth (Figs. 4, 5). The
more striking features are as follows: mandibles rather large, with four apical teeth (but the left mandible with only three evident teeth, (the basal one rather broad) ; palpi apparently short (but may be broken off or distorted) ; antennae arising far below eyes, promi- nently geniculate, with a long, slender scape and a somewhat longer flagellum of about 12 segments (cannot be counted precisely; both flagella lie longitudinally beneath the head and appear to be broad- ened and flattened on the apical two-thirds, but this may be the result of distortion) ; front with a strong median groove; eyes large, nott hairy, ocelli well developed. Pronotum elongate, its posterior margin arcuately emarginate; mesoscutum and scutellum narrow and elongate, separated by a groove (but much compressed and dis- torted; parapsidal furrows and notauli not visible) ; propodeurn with a large, acute process on each side; wings with several veins as figured; legs elongate, covered with short hairs but without spines except for a few short ones on the tarsi; tibia1 spur formula 1-2-2; front coxae with apical spine-like processes; claws rather large, apparently simple; basal half of abdomen broad, depressed but not evidently concave ventrally, apparently consisting of four segments as figured; apical half of abdomen in the form of a long tube, con- sisting of three segments, the tip of the sting protruding from the end of the apical segment.
Type species: ProcZe$tes carpenteri, new species The name Procleptes was cho'sen to suggest that this wasp may be a member of the stock which gave rise to the modern genus CZeptes 'For a discussion of this locality and descriptions of other insects, see Carpenter et a1 (1934). Richards (1966) presents evidence that this amber is at least 72-73 million years old and probably dates from the early Upper Cretaceous, at a time when the climate of this part of Canada was mainly tropical. McAIpine and Martin (1969) give a detailed account of the oc- currence of the amber and its probable origin.



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258 Psyche [September
(variously placed in the bethyloid family Cleptidae or in the sub- family Cleptinae of the Chrysididae). The resemblance in abdominal structure is especially close (see, e.g., the figure of CZeptes consimiZis in Grandi, 1961, Fig. 2, no. 6). The major differences from CZeptes are in the mandibles, which are rather broad and 3 or 4-toothed apically, as in many Bethylidae (from which the cleptids may well have evolved), in the unusually long and slender scape, and the more prolonged head anterior (to the eyes (although some of this may be the result of distortion). The elongate head and somewhat bulging eyes might suggest that this specimen belongs in the subfamily Amiseginae (variously placed in the Cleptidae or Chrysididae) ; however, lthe front has a median groove and no specialized sculpturing on the lower part, the mandibles are much broader than in any known Amiseginae, and the abdomen is relatively elongate. The abdomen is not ventrally concave nor otherwise as specialized as in Fig. 4. Procleptes cav-penteri n. spa, dorsal view of type 3pecimen. In fact the abdomen is twisted ventrally and forward, as in Fig. 5; in this figure it is shown as if it extended straight backward. Fig, 5. Same specimen, lateral view.




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19691 Evans - Cretaceous Wasps 259
the true cuckoo wasps (Chrysidinae). It is unlikely that Procleptes was a "cuckoo" in behavior) not only because of its greater resem- blance to Cleptinae and Amiseginae but because aculeate hosts must have been relatively scarce in the Cretaceous. Species of CZeptes have been reared from the larvae of sawflies, which may have been plentiful in the Cretaceous, since their fossil record extends back to the Triassic. Amiseginae are parasites of the eggs of walking sticks. I would assume that Procleptes was a parasitoid, and I suggest sa.wflies as probable hosts, although orthopteroids or indeed many other groups of insects cannot be ruled out as possibilities. Procleptes carpenteri, new species
Length of body about 3-2 mm; wings apparently fully developed (although broken off near the base in this specimen). Head and thorax with a distinct blue-green cast) the integument apparently modera,tely thick and rather strongly punctate) the pronotum longi- tudinally striatopunctate ; legs and abdomen black, non-metallic ; body and legs covered with short) whitish hair; other details as figured.
Specimen in a small block of amber fro,m Cedar Lake) Manitoba (Upper Cretaceous), collected by F'. M. Carpenter. MCZ no. 12340
Discussion
It comes as a considerable surprise to find such specialized wasps in the Cretaceous. The remarkable tubular development of the apical half of the abdomen of Procleptes is quite like that of modern species, and the unusual and much reduced wing venation of Lisfionema is very comparable (to that of some of the more specialized living Pemphredoninae.
Discovery of quite a typical wing of a wasp from the lowest part of the Cretaceous) however) makes it seem less surprising to find specialized forms in the upper part of that period. The Cretaceous was) after all,
a very long period) com-
parable in length to the entire Tertiary. I believe that the small size of all three of these wasps is an accident of preservation rather than an indication that all the original Aculeata were small. Dr. R. A. Crowson tells me lthat the Wa.dhurst Clays in which Archisphex was found contain mostly small insects and fragments of larger ones; and a small piece of the wing of a large wasp might not be recognizable as such. The bits of amber from Cedar Lake) Manitoba, are all quite small and only very small insects have been preserved in them. The Cretaceous ant



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260 Psyche
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Sphecomyrmu, from New Jersey amber) is described as "medium- sized", while Cretavus is a large wasp) with a wing length of 10 mm (thus with a wingspan of about 23 nlm and a probable body length of 13-18 mm). There may have been a fairly diverse fauna of Aculeata of various sizes in the Cretaceous) but it ha,ppens )that the deposits considered here are chiefly favorable for preserving small species) which often happen to have reductions in wing venation and other specializations.
The diversity of Aculeata in )the Cretaceous (three superfamilies certainly and two others probably, as pointed out in the introduction) suggests an origin of this group in the Jurassic. Dr. Crowson tells me that the rocks in which Archisphex was found contain a number of insects belonging to Jurassic proups. The Sphecidae undoubtedIy diversified rapidly in the Cretaceous, as evidenced by Lisponema and by quite modern-looking Nyssoninae in the Eocene. Lisponema was surely not a ground-nester) and Baltic Amber is rich in Sphecidae which probably nested in hollow twigs and other cavities above ground (including Passdoecus and other genera related to Lispo- nema). If the Sphecidae arose from a scolioid ancestor one wouId have expected them to have been originally associated with the soil. In fact they may have been so; twig-nesters tend to occur more abundantly in foregted areas and may thus become preserved in amber much more readily. The Pompilidae are sometimes regarded as a somewhat more "primitive" group on the sphecoid stem) but it is noteworthy that none are known from prior to the Oligocene (BaItic Amber) and [that the fossils from that epoch belong mainly to archaic genera such as Epipompilus.
The radiation of the Sphecidae in the Cretaceous makes it seem very likely that the bees had their origin in this period and that they were therefore on hand \to participate in the early diversification of the flowering plants. The presence of ProcZeptes in the Upper Cretaceous also suggests that a prototype for the cuckoo wasps was available to take advantage of the proliferation of the bees and wasps during the Tertiary,
REFERENCES
CARPENTER) F. M., et al.
1934, Insects and Arachnids from Canadian Amber. Univ. Toronto Studies, GeoL Series) no. 40, pp. 7-62.
COCKERELL, T. D. A.
1922. An ancient wasp. Nature, 110: 313. EVANS) H. Em
1966. The Comparative Ethology and Evolution of the Sand Wasps. Harvard Univ. Press, Cambridge, Mass., 526 pp.



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GRANWI, G.
1961.
Studi di un entomologo sugli Imenotteri superiori. Boll. 1st. Ent. Univ. Bologna, 25: 1-659.
MATTHEWS) R. W.
1968, Nesting biology of the social wasp Micros~igmus comes (Hymen- optera : Sphecidae? Pemphredoninae). Psychel 75 : 23-45. MCALPINE~ J. F. AND J, E. H. MARTIN
1969. Canadian amber- a paleontological treasure chest. Can. Ent. 101: 819-838.
RICHARDS, W. R.
1966. Systematics of fossil aphids from Canadian amber (Homoptera: Aphididae). Canad. Ent., 98: 746-760.
SHAROV) A. G.
1957. First discovery of a Cretaceous stinging hymenopteron (Acu- leata). DokL Akad. Nauk.? 112 : 943-944 (In Russian). WHITE, He J. OSBORNE
1928.
The geology of the country near Hastings and Dungeness. Mem. Geol. Survey England, Expl. Sheets 320 and 3211 pp. 61 25-27, 61-69.
WILSON, E. O.? l?. M. CARPENTER, AND W. L. BROWN! JR. 1967. The first Mesozoic antsl with the description of a new subfamily. Psyche, 74: 1-19.




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