New Dinopanorpidae (Insecta: Mecoptera) from the Eocene Okanagan Highlands (British Columbia, Canada and Washington State, USA)

Abstract

Six new species of the extinct family Dinopanorpidae (Mecoptera) are described in the new genus Dinokanaga gen. nov. from five Early (and early Middle?) Eocene Okanagan Highlands localities in British Columbia and Washington State. These are Dinokanaga hillsi sp. nov., D. wilsoni sp. nov., D. dowsonae sp. nov., D. andersoni sp. nov., D. sternbergi sp. nov., and D. webbi sp. nov. The family Dinopanorpidae is previously known only from a hind wing of Dinopanorpa megarche Cockerell, and an undescribed species of Dinopanorpa, both from the Paleogene of Primorye (Maritime Province) in Pacific coastal far-eastern Russia. The family includes mostly large species, with forewings up to 43 mm in length. Dinopanorpidae is particularly distinguished by a long R1 vein in both the fore- and hind wings, extending almost to the wing apex and bending posteriad distally. Their wings are mostly dark with light bands and spots; have many to extremely dense crossveins; and an expanded costal space in the basal quarter of the forewing, which is more developed in larger species. The rostrum is extended; the medigynium is without tongue-shaped structures.