# Necroraphidia

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***Necroraphidia*** is an [extinct](/source/Extinct) [genus](/source/Genus) of [snakefly](/source/Snakefly) in the family [Mesoraphidiidae](/source/Mesoraphidiidae). The genus is solely known from [Early Cretaceous](/source/Early_Cretaceous), [Albian age](/source/Albian), fossil amber found in [Spain](/source/Spain). Currently the genus comprises a single species, ***Necroraphidia arcuata***.[1]

## History and classification

*Necroraphidia arcuata* is known only from one fossil, the [holotype](/source/Holotype), specimen number CES 391.1. The specimen is composed of a partial isolated [fore and hind-wings](/source/Insect_wing), leg segments, and a partial abdomen. All of the wings and the abdomen are covered in a mat of [fungal](/source/Fungal) [hyphae](/source/Hypha). They are included in a specimen of amber with plant debris and a number of other insects, such as [coleopteras](/source/Coleoptera), [hymenopteras](/source/Hymenoptera). and aphids. The fossil was recovered from outcrops of the [Las Peñosas Formation](/source/Las_Pe%C3%B1osas_Formation) in Rábago, part of the [Cantabria autonomous community](/source/Cantabria) in Northern Spain.[1] *Necroraphidia* was first studied by group of paleoentomologists led by Ricardo Pérez-de la Fuente of the [University of Barcelona](/source/University_of_Barcelona) and including Enrique Peñalver, Xavier Delclòs, and [Michael S. Engel](/source/Michael_S._Engel). Their 2012 [type description](/source/Type_(biology)) of the new genus and species was published in the electronic journal *[ZooKeys](/source/ZooKeys)*.[1] The genus name *Necroraphidia* was coined by the researchers as a combination of the snakefly genus *[Raphidia](/source/Raphidia)* and the [Greek](/source/Ancient_Greek) *[nekros](https://en.wiktionary.org/wiki/%CE%BD%CE%B5%CE%BA%CF%81%CF%8C%CF%82)* meaning "dead". The [specific epithet](/source/Specific_name_(zoology)) *arcuata* is derived from the [Latin](/source/Latin) *[arcuatus](https://en.wiktionary.org/wiki/arcuatus)*, meaning "bent", a reference to the distinct structure of the pterostigmal crossvein.[1] *Necroraphidia arcuata* is one of six described snakefly species found in the Albian deposits of Cantabria.[1] *Necroraphidia* is most similar in character to *[Ororaphidia](/source/Ororaphidia)* and *[Styporaphidia](/source/Styporaphidia)*, both from the Jurassic of Mongolia.

## Description

The lone specimen of *Necroraphidia arcuata* is of a very fragmentary adult. The [hyaline](/source/Hyaline) forewings are partially preserved and display brown vein structuring that hosts robust [setae](/source/Setae). The left forewing is the most complete, being approximately 6.9 millimetres (0.27 in) in length and a maximum of 2.7 millimetres (0.11 in) in width. The total estimated length for the forewings is less than 9 millimetres (0.35 in). Overall the legs show a striped pattern of dark and light patches. The femur has three distinct dark patches while the tibia has a darkened proximal area and a dark patch below the midpoint.[1] The abdomen is 3.7 millimetres (0.15 in) long but details of the abdomen are obscured by the dense growth of fungal hyphae and some decomposition.[1] The overall dimensions of the genus are smaller than either *[Ororaphidia](/source/Ororaphidia)* or *[Styporaphidia](/source/Styporaphidia)*. All three genera are noted for the [pterostigmal](/source/Pterostigma) region lacking a basal cross vein and instead being diffuse. *Necroraphidia* and *Styporaphidia* are separable by the cross veins in the pterostigma, with only one being found in *Necroraphidia* while *Styporaphidia* has two. The forewing of *Ororaphidia* is notably larger at 11.4 millimetres (0.45 in) and also displays distinct shapes to both the pterostigmal cross vein and second radial cell.[1]

## References

1. Pérez-de la Fuente, R.; Peñalver, E.; Delclòs, X.; Engel, M.S. (2012). "Snakefly diversity in Early Cretaceous amber from Spain (Neuropterida, Raphidioptera)". *ZooKeys*. '***(204): 1–40. [doi:10.3897/zookeys.204.2740](https://doi.org/10.3897/zookeys.204.2740). [PMC 3391719](https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3391719). [PMID 22787417](https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/22787417)***

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