New Genus and Species of Limnichines from the Cretaceous Amber of Myanmar and Taxonomic Notes on the Family Limnichidae (Coleoptera, Polyphaga).

Abstract

Simple SummaryHere is described a new genus and species of minute marsh-loving beetles (Limnichidae) from the Cretaceous Burmese amber. The new fossil can be accurately assigned to the subfamily Limnichinae and tribe Limnichini. The new genus is similar to extant members of the genus Platypelochares, currently distributed in the Indo-Malayan Region, and a member of the fossil genus Hernandochares gen. nov. from the Eocene Baltic amber. The Mesozoic and Cenozoic fossil genera described here and some other modern limnichines (Polyphaga) have small body size and some structural similarities to myxophagan torridincollids (Myxophaga), probably because of their association with riparian and hygropetric habitats.Burmochares groehnigen. et sp. nov., the oldest known representative of the subfamily Limnichinae and tribe Limnichini, is described from the Cretaceous amber of northern Myanmar. The new genus Hernandochares gen. nov. is proposed for Platypelochares electricus Hernando, Szawaryn et Ribera, 2018 (type species of this new genus) from the Eocene Baltic amber. The structurally similar genera Platypelochares, Burmochares gen. nov., Hernandochares gen. nov., some other limnichines (Polyphaga) and some torridincollids (Myxophaga) are thought to be connected by their preference for similar habitats and lifestyle.