{{Short description|Extinct genus of insects}} {{Speciesbox |fossil_range= {{fossil_range|50|44|Early Eocene}} |image = Aspidopleura baltica (dorsal habitus).jpg |taxon = Aspidopleura baltica |parent_authority = Gibson, 2009 |authority = Gibson, 2009 }}
'''''Aspidopleura''''' is an extinct monotypic genus of parasitic wasp in the Eupelmidae subfamily Neanastatinae and at present, it contains the single species '''''Aspidopleura baltica'''''.<ref name="Gibson2009">{{cite journal |author=Gary Gibson |year=2009 |title=Description of three new genera and four new species of Neanastatinae (Hymenoptera, Eupelmidae) from Baltic amber, with discussion of their relationships to extant taxa |journal=ZooKeys |issue=20 |pages=175–214 [195] |url=http://pensoftonline.net/zookeys/index.php/journal/article/view/161 |doi=10.3897/zookeys.20.161 |access-date=2010-03-30 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100922071426/http://pensoftonline.net/zookeys/index.php/journal/article/view/161 |archive-date=2010-09-22 |url-status=dead |doi-access=free |bibcode=2009ZooK...20..175G }}</ref> The genus is solely known from the Early Eocene<ref name="Wolfe2009">{{cite journal |author1=Alexander P. Wolfe |author2=Ralf Tappert |author3=Karlis Muehlenbachs |author4=Marc Boudreau |author5=Ryan C. McKellar |author6=James F. Basinger |author7=Amber Garrett |year=2009 |title=A new proposal concerning the botanical origin of Baltic amber |journal=Proceedings of the Royal Society B: Biological Sciences |volume=276 |issue=1672 |pages=3403–3412 |doi=10.1098/rspb.2009.0806 |pmid=19570786 |pmc=2817186 }}</ref> Baltic amber deposits in the Baltic Sea region of Europe.<ref name="Gibson2009"/>
==History and classification== ''Aspidopleura'' is known from only two fossils, the holotype and the paratype. The holotype, number "AMNH-JWJ-409", is a single female specimen preserved in a nearly flattened amber block {{convert|24|by|18|mm}} in size. The paratype, number "AMNH-JWJ-410", is also a single female specimen and preserved in a nearly triangular amber block {{convert|19|by|14|mm}} in size. Both amber blocks are currently residing in the American Museum of Natural History paleoentomology collections in New York City, USA.<ref name="Gibson2009"/> The specimens of ''Aspidopleura baltica'' were first studied by Gary A.P. Gibson, with his 2009 type description being published in the journal ''ZooKeys''.<ref name="Gibson2009"/> The generic name wash coined by Gary Gibson as a combination of the Greek words ''aspido'' meaning "shield" and ''pleuro'', meaning "side", in reference to the shape and overall structure of the acropleuron. The specific epithet "''baltica''" was designated as a reference to the origin of the specimens in amber from the Baltic region.<ref name="Gibson2009"/>
==Description== ''Aspidopleura baltica'' is {{convert|4.2|mm|in}} in length when the ovipositor is included and a uniform dark brown color. Several areas on each of the females are obscured or missing, with the dorsal view and right side not visible on the holotype, while the paratype has areas of white mold. The forewings are hyaline in coloration with a large brown spot covering the area behind the marginal and postmarginal veins but fading towards the wing apex.<ref name="Gibson2009"/>
In general ''Aspidopleura'' does not closely resemble extant members of the subfamily Neanastatinae, with a very large speculum in the forewing and possessing a distinct frenum. These features are closer in appearance to females of the subfamily Eupelminae. However the sine patterning on the legs of ''Aspidopleura'' are much closer to that of extant Neanastatinae.<ref name="Gibson2009"/>
Although the life habit of ''Aspidopleura baltica'' is unknown, the short length of the ovipositor and shape of the mandibles, both similar to the genus ''Anastatus'' in subfamily Eupelminae, suggests ''Aspidopleura'' was possibly parasitic on insect eggs.<ref name="Gibson2009"/>
==References== {{Reflist}}
{{Taxonbar|from=Q4808015}}
Category:Eupelmidae Category:Prehistoric Hymenoptera genera † Category:Monotypic prehistoric insect genera Category:Ypresian genera Category:Ypresian insects Category:Eocene insects of Europe Category:Fossil taxa described in 2009 Category:Hymenoptera of Europe Category:Baltic amber