Pectapalochrus gen. n., a new genus of soft-winged flower beetles of the tribe apalochrini (Coleoptera, Malachiidae)

Abstract

Analysis of species of Dromanthomorphus Pic from South-East Asia has shown that the genus is distinguished by the following special male characters: flabellate, serrate, or filiform antennae; one-colored white pubescence of the surface; a swollen metathorax with a gladiate appendage; stout and excavate fore and middle tibiae; elongate and modified fore and middle coxae; apical tergites with a specific slanting and tile-like sculpture at the apex; apical abdominal sternites bilaciniate, with specifically sculptured apices. These characters are completely lacking in the Palaearctic species attributed to Dromanthomorphus, which are characterized by flabellate or serrate antennae, by a simple, not swollen metathorax lacking appendages, double white and black pubescence of the surface, simple, evenly rounded apical abdominal tergites, and evenly narrowed apical abdominal sternites emarginate in the middle and having simple, not sculptured apices. Based on these differences, a new genus, Pectapalochrus gen. n., is described for the Palaearctic species. Keys to Pectapalochrus species and to genera of Apalochrini of Eurasia and also illustrations of the habitus and male structures of the new genus are given.