# Elektrithone

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{{Short description|Extinct genus of insects}}
{{Speciesbox
| fossil_range= {{fossilrange|Lutetian|Lutetian|[Lutetian](/source/Lutetian)}}
| image =Elektrithone expectata holotype Baltic amber Fig1.png
| image_caption = Holotype forewing, Baltic amber 
| genus = Elektrithone
| species = expectata
| parent_authority = Makarkin, Wedmann, & Weiterschan, 2014
| authority = Makarkin, Wedmann, & Weiterschan, 2014
}}

'''''Elektrithone''''' is an [extinct](/source/extinct) [genus](/source/genus) of [lacewing](/source/Neuroptera) in the moth lacewings family [Ithonidae](/source/Ithonidae).  The genus is solely known from an [Eocene](/source/Eocene) fossil forewing found in [Europe](/source/Europe).  At the times of description the genus was composed of a single species, '''''Elektrithone expectata'''''.<ref name="Makarkin2014b">{{Cite journal|last1=Makarkin |first1=VN |last2=Wedmann |first2=S |last3=Weiterschan |first3=T |year=2014 |title=First record of the family Ithonidae (Neuroptera) from Baltic amber |journal=Zootaxa |volume=3796 |issue=2 |pages=385–393 |doi=10.11646/zootaxa.3796.2.10 |pmid=24870683 }}</ref>

==History and classification==
''Elektrithone expectata'' is known only from the one fossil, the [holotype](/source/holotype), specimen number SMF Be 2374, which is housed in the collections of the [Senckenberg Forschungsinstitut und Naturmuseum](/source/Naturmuseum_Senckenberg) in [Frankfurt, Germany](/source/Frankfurt%2C_Germany).  The specimen is preserved as an [inclusion](/source/Inclusion_(mineral)) in a transparent chunk of 46 million year old [Baltic amber](/source/Baltic_amber) which was deposited during the [Lutetian](/source/Lutetian) stage of the [Middle Eocene](/source/Middle_Eocene).  There is debate on what plant family produced the amber, with evidence supporting relatives of either an ''[Agathis](/source/Agathis)'' relative or a ''[Pseudolarix](/source/Pseudolarix)'' relative.<ref name="Hendrickx2012">{{Cite journal |last1=Henderickx |first1=H. |last2=Tafforeau |first2=P. |last3=Soriano |first3=C |year=2012 |title=Phase-contrast synchrotron microtomography reveals the morphology of a partially visible new ''Pseudogarypus'' in Baltic amber (Pseudoscorpiones: Pseudogarypidae) |journal= Palaeontologia Electronica |volume=15 |issue=2;17A,11p |pages = 1–11 |url=http://palaeo-electronica.org/content/2012-issue-2-articles/252-pseudogarypus-synchrotron}}</ref>  The fossil was first studied by the paleoentomologists Vladimir N. Makarkin of the [Far Eastern Branch of the Russian Academy of Sciences](/source/Russian_Academy_of_Sciences), Sonja Wedmann of the [Senckenberg Forschungsstation](/source/Messel_pit), and Thomas Weiterschan of [Höchst im Odenwald](/source/H%C3%B6chst_im_Odenwald),  [Germany](/source/Germany).  Their 2014 [type description](/source/Type_(biology)) of the new genus and species was published in the online journal ''[Zootaxa](/source/Zootaxa)''.  The genus name ''Elektrithone'' was coined by the researchers as a combination of the moth lacewing genus ''[Ithone](/source/Ithone)'' and the [Greek](/source/Greek_Language) word ''elektro'' meaning "amber", which is in reference to the finding of the genus in Baltic amber.<ref name="Makarkin2014b"/>  The [specific epithet](/source/specific_name_(zoology)) ''expectata'' is from the [Latin](/source/Latin) word meaning "expected", alluding to the anticipated find of the family in Baltic amber. ''Elektrithone'' is the first member of Ithonidae to be discovered in Baltic amber.<ref name="Makarkin2014b"/>

Using the [Comstock–Needham system](/source/Comstock%E2%80%93Needham_system) for describing [insect venation](/source/Insect_wing) patterns, the ''Elektrithone'' CuP (cubitus posterior, the "rear elbow") venation is similar to members of the [neuroptera](/source/neuroptera)n families [Brongniartiellidae](/source/Brongniartiellidae) and [Osmylopsychopidae](/source/Osmylopsychopidae), in that the CuP in both families is short and not comb like.  However, both families have wings with an anal area that has at least one or two highly branched anal veins, a character that is not seen in ''Elektrithone''.<ref name="Makarkin2014b"/>  The broad costal area of ''Elektrithone'' along with the strongly curved humeral veinlet, comb like MP (medial posterior) and CuA (cubitus anterior) veins and the series structure of the radial crossveins are all features seen in Ithonidae.  The features found in ''Elektrithone'' are a mosaic of characters found in several genera of Ithonids.<ref name="Makarkin2014b"/>

==Description==
The holotype is composed of a single partially complete forewing which is missing a section of the central wing area.  The preserved section of the forewing is approximately {{convert|19|mm|in|abbr=on}} long and {{convert|10|mm|in|abbr=on}} wide, with an estimated length, if whole, of {{convert|30|mm|in|abbr=on}}.  The wing has a costal space that is wide, widening towards the wing base and a number of [trichosor](/source/trichosor)s are present along the leading edge of the wing.<ref name="Makarkin2014b"/>  The ScA (subcostal anterior) veinlet is well developed, thick, and connecting to the ScP (subcostal posterior) vein before the humeral veinlet.  The subcostal veinlets mostly are only shallowly forked, and the radial crossveins being grouped into a pair of gradate series.  The wing does not show any evidence that [nygma](/source/nygma) were present in life.<ref name="Makarkin2014b"/>

==References==
{{Reflist}}

{{Taxonbar|from=Q18926185}}

Category:Ithonidae
Category:Lutetian insects
Category:Fossil taxa described in 2014
Category:Eocene insects of Europe
Category:Baltic amber
Category:Lutetian genera
Category:Monotypic prehistoric insect genera
Category:Monotypic Neuroptera genera

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Adapted from the Wikipedia article [Elektrithone](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Elektrithone) by Wikipedia contributors ([contributor history](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Elektrithone?action=history)). Available under [Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International](https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/). Changes may have been made.