First record of Perforissidae from Early Cretaceous Lebanese amber (Hemiptera: Fulgoromorpha: Fulgoroidea)

This chapter briefly describes about a new genus, Aafrita gen. n., with a new species, Aafrita biladalshama sp. n., from the Early Cretaceous Lebanese amber. This new genus and species is the first record of the extinct family Perforissidae (Hemiptera: Fulgoroidea) from the fossil resins of Gondwanaland. The family Perforissidae is known only from the Cretaceous and it is placed among the ‘Cixiidae-like’ planthoppers. It is a peculiar group, which presents a combination of particular morphological characters not to be found among either extinct or extant Fulgoroidea. The chapter also describes the specimens: Imagines (females), nymphs and exuvia which originate from the three outcrops located in Northern, Central and Southern Lebanon. The morphological peculiarities of the fossils are briefly discussed. The chapter discusses the FT-IR spectra of the fossil resins in which the fossils were found. Keywords: Aafrita biladalshama ; early cretaceous Lebanese amber; fossil resins; FT-IR spectra; Perforissidae