A diminutive elcanid from mid-Cretaceous Burmese amber, Ellca nevelka gen. et sp. nov., and the function of metatibial spurs in Elcanidae (Orthoptera)

Ellca nevelka gen. et sp. nov. (Orthoptera: Elcanidae) is described from mid-Cretaceous Burmese amber and it is the smallest known elcanid (body length = 4.53 mm) characterized by a combination of morphological characters on the head, pronotum, metatibial spurs, and metatarsomeres. Well-preserved forewing venation indicates that the fossil belongs to Elcaninae; as such, this species is the latest known representative of this subfamily. The described species has a narrow pterostigma on its forewings, which suggests that this species could use both pairs of wings for active flight. A new hypothesis is proposed for the function of the enlarged and flattened metatibial spurs, which could help stabilize and control flight. (C) 2020 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.