Alitrepaninae, a new subfamily of auger beetles from mid-Cretaceous Kachin amber of northern Myanmar (Coleoptera: Bostrichidae)

Abstract

A new subfamily of fossil auger beetles (Bostrichidae) is described and figured from mid-Cretaceous Kachin amber of northern Myanmar as Alitrepaninae subfam. nov., and currently including only the type genus and species: Alitrepanum aladelicatum gen. et sp. nov. The subfamily is distinguished from bostrichid lineages by a unique combination of characters relating to number of antennomeres, relative lengths of protarsomeres, and form of the pronotum and elytra. Charcoal-like fragments preserved with one of the specimens along with the fact that some modern bostrichids are associated with fire-prone habitats accords with the potential activity of devastating fires promoting the extensive production of resin flows, ultimately leading to significant amber deposits.