A New Cixiid Fossil Genus of the Tribe Acrotiarini from Mid-Cretaceous Burmese Amber (Insecta, Hemiptera, Fulgoromorpha) †

SIMPLE SUMMARY: Many fossil planthoppers (Hemiptera: Fulgoromorpha) have been recently described from Burmese amber. Most belong to extinct families already well known or newly described, but few are related to existing families and for which these fossils will prove to be very useful for future molecular calibration analyzes. Here, we describe a new fossil genus of the extant Cixiidae family that we place into the recently described fossil tribe Acrotiarini. A new key to genera identification of Acrotiarini is proposed. Allowing the description for the first time of the male genitalia of Acrotiarini, this new fossil genus broadens the knowledge of the fossil tribe, and it underlines the already great diversity of the Cixiidae in the Cretaceous. ABSTRACT: A new Burmese amber genus Maculixius gen. nov. with its type species Maculixius jiewenae sp. nov. is described in the planthopper family Cixiidae. This new genus is unique in Burmese Cixiidae by its forewing venation, with Pcu and A1 merging in the middle of clavus, the late bifurcation of ScP+R slightly after this level, and the early CuA forking well before this level. Although the head capsule is missing, it belongs to the recently described tribe Acrotiarini, based on the pentacarinated mesonotum and the distinctly arched RA on forewing with cell C1 wider submedially than apically. Morphological characteristics of Acrotiarini are discussed, and a key to identification of Acrotiarini genera is provided. The new taxon broadens the knowledge of the tribe, and it underlines the already great diversity of the family in the Cretaceous.