A fossil sawfly of the genus Athalia (Hymenoptera: Tenthredinidae) from the Eocene-Oligocene boundary of Altkirch, France

Abstract

A new species of coleseed sawfly (Tenthredinidae: Athaliini) is described and figured from the Eocene-Oligocene 'Rebberg' quarry within the Fossiliferous Zone, a member of the Middle Salt Formation. Athalia vetuecclesiae n. sp. is the first representative of the Athalia group from the geological record. The new species is most similar to members of the A. vollenhoveni-group represented by only six species from Africa, but can be distinguished by details of antennal structure and length of spurs of the hind tibia. The phylogenetic position of the fossil within the Tenthredinidae*, its palaeoenvironmental implication, and the geological setting of the quarry are briefly discussed. Show more