Procoxal Cavities Research Articles

A new species of the extant genus Bulasconotus from mid-Cretaceous Kachin amber (Coleoptera: Zopheridae: Colydiinae)

A fossil species of the extant colydiine genus Bulasconotus Ślipiński & Lawrence, B. carinisternus Li, Ślipiński & Cai sp. nov., is reported from mid-Cretaceous Kachin amber of northern Myanmar. The new species shares with extant Bulasconotus the 3-segmented antennal club, externally open procoxal cavities, and similar sculpture on the pronotum and elytra, but could be recognized by the medially carinated prosternal process. The present discovery provides a valuable example of morphological stasis in the cylindrical bark beetles.

A new genus of the tribe Rhamphini (Coleoptera: Curculionidae) from Zimbabwe

A new genus, Afroramhus Legalov, gen. n. with type species: Afroramhus yakovlevi sp. n. from the subtribe Rhamphina (Rhamphini) from Zimbabwe is described. The new genus differs from the genus Indodinorrhopalus Pajni et Sood, 1981 in narrowly separated procoxal cavities and femora with small tubercle and from Rhynchaenus Clairville, 1798 in the unarmed pro- and mesotibiae and femora with small tubercle. This is the first record of the tribe Rhamphini for Zimbabwe. A list of the species of the subtribe Rhamphina of sub-Saharan Africa is provided.

An enigmatic beetle with affinity to Lamingtoniidae in mid-Cretaceous amber from northern Myanmar (Coleoptera: Cucujoidea)

An enigmatic cucujiform beetle, Alloterocucus atratus Li, Leschen, Liu, and Cai gen. et sp. nov., is reported from mid-Cretaceous Burmese amber. The character combination of the new fossil is not completely consistent with any of the known cucujoid or erotyloid families. Based on our phylogenetic analyses, Alloterocucus is assigned to Cucujoidea and may be allied to Lamingtoniidae, which contains a single Australasian genus in the extant fauna. Alloterocucus shares with Lamingtoniidae a similar habitus and a series of characters, including the absence of postocular constriction, 3-segmented antennal club, externally open procoxal cavities, laterally open mesocoxal cavities, exposed pro- and mesotrochantins, and the absence of epipleural fovea and pronotal setose cavities, but differs from extant Lamingtoniidae in its apically truncate terminal maxillary palpomeres, 5-5-4 tarsi in male and absence of distinct dorsal punctation.Zoobank registration[https://zoobank.org/], identifier [111CE15E-5B49-4154-9E4A-7B3A738C6D2A].

Revisiting the morphology of the Cretaceous ommatid beetle Clessidromma palmeri (Coleoptera: Archostemata: Ommatidae)

The morphology of Clessidromma palmeri Jarzembowski et al. from mid-Cretaceous Burmese amber is revised based on a reexamination of the type specimen. Contrary to previous studies, our observation confirms that Clessidromma has open procoxal cavities. The characters such as platform on the ventral side of head, modified metacoxae, and ridges on head and pronotum are suggested to be diagnostic characters for Clessidromma. Clessidromma zengi Kirejtshuk from the same deposit is transferred into a new genus, as Kirejtomma zengi comb. nov.

Balticeler kerneggeri gen. nov., sp. nov., an enigmatic Baltic amber fossil of the ground beetle subfamily Trechinae (Coleoptera, Carabidae)

Balticeler kerneggerigen. nov., sp. nov., is described based on six fossil specimens preserved in Eocene Baltic amber and imaged using light microscopy and X-ray micro-computed tomography. Based on certain characters observed in the fossil species it is considered a “middle grade” Carabidae, outside of the large family Harpalinae (as it possesses a scrobal seta, the lack of which is a synapomorphy of that subfamily), but possessing four synapomorphies that indicate Balticeler belongs to a large clade of carabids including Harpalinae (anisochaetous Grade B antennal cleaner, conjunct mesocoxae, closed procoxal cavities, and a well-developed external lobe of the metepimeron). This remarkable beetle has several striking features, including lack of externally-visible sexually dimorphic characters, lack of lateral borders on the pronotum, and very long and thin mandibles and maxillae. In combination, these states are unique within Carabidae. We consider the presence of a dorsally completely open aedeagal median lobe as a synapomorphy of the fossil species with the subfamily Trechinae, a pubescent and relatively long second antennomere and a 4+2+2 pattern of umbilicate setae as synapomorphies of the supertribe Trechitae, and a quadrisetose clypeus as a synapomorphy with the Trechitae clade Bembidarenini + Trechini sensu Maddison et al. (2019). As it lacks a synapomorphy of Bembidarenini + Trechini, we propose that it is a member of the stem group of that clade.

First record of the tribe Lymantini (Coleoptera: Curculionidae) from Dominican amber

ABSTRACT A new weevil genus, Bronchotibia gen. nov. (type species: B. adunatus sp. nov.), of the subfamily Molytinae in the family Curculionidae is described from Dominican amber. The new genus is similar to the Central American genus Theognete Champion, 1902 but differs in the fused antennomeres 10 and 11 without suture, protibiae with large teeth in apical third directed towards the base, contiguous procoxal cavities, and small body size. There is the first fossil record of the tribe Lymantini.

A new genus of the subtribe Geochina (Coleoptera: Curculionidae) from the Philippines

Orientogeochus rheinheimeri gen. et sp. n. is described and illustra¬ted from Luzon (the Philippines). The new genus differs from the genus Afrogeochus in the toothed femora, rounded eyes, widely separated procoxal cavities, subapically inserted antennae and rostrum almost three times as long as the base, widened at the apex. A key to the genera of the subtribe Geochina and distribution map for species are given.

Revision of Chinese Phorocardius species (Coleoptera, Elateridae, Cardiophorinae).

The Chinese species of Phorocardius Fleutiaux, 1931 have been studied and six species are described as new: P.alterlineatus Ruan & Douglas, sp. nov.; P.flavistriolatus Ruan & Douglas, sp. nov.; P.minutus Ruan & Douglas, sp. nov.; P.rufiposterus Ruan & Douglas, sp. nov.; P.yunnanensis Ruan & Douglas, sp. nov.; and P.zhiweii Ruan, Douglas & Qiu, sp. nov. Lectotypes are designated for Cardiophoruscomptus Candèze, 1860, Cardiophoruscontemptus Candèze, 1860, Phorocardiusmagnus Fleutiaux, 1931, and Cardiophorusmanuleatus Candèze, 1888. The holotype is identified for Cardiophorusyanagiharae Miwa, 1927. Phorocardiusflorentini (Fleutiaux, 1895) and P.manuleatus (Candèze, 1888) are newly reported from China; P.comptus (Candèze, 1860) is excluded from the Chinese fauna. A key to the 11 Phorocardius species known from China is given. Phorocardius is newly recorded from deep within the Palearctic Region. The procoxal cavities of P.rufiposterus Ruan & Douglas, sp. nov. are closed, which is different from all other species of Phorocardius. An annotated checklist of the 21 Phorocardius species of the world is provided. Additionally, Phorocardiuscontemptus (Candèze, 1860), comb. nov. is transferred from Cardiophorus to Phorocardius; four species are transferred from Phorocardius to Displatynychus: Displatynychusbombycinus (Candèze, 1895), comb. nov., Displatynychuspakistanicus (Platia & Ahmed, 2016), comb. nov., Displatynychussobrinus (Laporte, 1840), comb. nov., and Displatynychustibialis (Platia & Ahmed, 2016), comb. nov.

Reevaluation ofBlapimorpha and Opatrinae: addressing a major phylogeny‐classification gap in darkling beetles (Coleoptera: Tenebrionidae: Blaptinae)

AbstractThe taxonomic concepts of Blapimorpha and Opatrinae (informal and traditional, morphology‐based groupings among darkling beetles) are tested using molecular phylogenetics and a reassessment of larval and adult morphology to address a major phylogeny‐classification gap in Tenebrionidae. Instead of a holistic approach (family‐level phylogeny), this study uses a bottom‐up strategy (tribal grouping) in order to define larger, monophyletic lineages within Tenebrioninae. Sampling included representatives of 27 tenebrionid tribes: Alleculini, Amarygmini, Amphidorini, Blaptini, Bolitophagini, Branchini, Cerenopini, Coniontini, Caenocrypticini, Dendarini, Eulabini, Helopini, Lagriini, Melanimini, Opatrini, Pedinini, Phaleriini, Physogasterini, Platynotini, Platyscelidini, Praociini, Scaurini, Scotobiini, Tenebrionini, Trachyscelini, Triboliini and Ulomini. Molecular analyses were based on DNA sequence data from four non‐overlapping gene regions: carbamoyl‐phosphate synthetase domain ofrudimentary(CAD) (723 bp),wingless(wg) (438 bp) and nuclear ribosomal 28S (1101 bp) and mitochondrial ribosomal 12S (363 bp). Additionally, 15 larval and imaginal characters were scored and subjected to an ancestral state reconstruction analysis. Results revealed that Amphidorini, Blaptini, Dendarini, Pedinini, Platynotini, Platyscelidini and Opatrini form a clade which can be defined by the following morphological features: adults—antennae lacking compound/stellate sensoria; procoxal cavities externally and internally closed, intersternal membrane of abdominal ventrites 3–5 visible; paired abdominal defensive glands present, elongate, not annulated; larvae—prolegs enlarged (adapted for digging); ninth tergite lacking urogomphi. To accommodate this monophyletic grouping (281 genera and ∼4000 species), the subfamily Blaptinaesens. nov.is resurrected. Prior to these results, all of the tribes within Blaptinae were classified within the polyphyletic subfamily Tenebrioninae. The non‐monophyletic nature of Terebrioninae has already been postulated by previous authors, yet no taxonomic decisions were made to fix its status. The reinstatement of Blaptinae, which groups ∼50% of the former Tenebrioninae, helps to clarify phylogenetic relations among the whole family and is the first step towards a complete higher‐level revision of Tenebrionidae. The Central Asian tribe Dissonomini (two genera, ∼30 species) was not included in Blaptinae due to a lack of representatives in the performed phylogenetic analyses; however, based on morphological features, the tribe is listed as a potential addition to the subfamily.

Specialised subcortical cylindrical bark beetles from mid-Cretaceous Burmese amber (Coleoptera: Zopheridae: Colydiinae)

ABSTRACT Cylindrical bark beetles (subfamily Colydiinae) are a group of mycophagous and predatory beetles placed in the family Zopheridae with a complicated taxonomic history and an unresolved phylogeny. We describe a new genus and two new species of strikingly cylindrical and elongate colydiid beetles from mid-Cretaceous Burmese amber mined in northern Myanmar (ca 99 Ma). Bifurderum minutum gen. et sp. nov. and B. donoghuei gen. et sp. nov. show a puzzling combination of characters including antennal and mandibular insertions concealed dorsally, 11-segmented antennae with a loose 2-segmented club, apical antennal segment not enclosed in the preceding antennomere, open procoxal cavities, prosternal process as wide as the maximum diameter of the procoxae and not expanding apically to close the procoxal cavities, narrowly separated metacoxae, and tarsi simple. The unusual body form of Bifurderum gen. nov. points towards a predatory life inside the galleries of wood-boring insects. The new fossils substantially expand the known range of morphological disparity in Mesozoic colydiid beetles and suggest that adaptation for life in the galleries of xylophagous insects in cylindrical bark beetles evolved by the mid-Cretaceous.

The first record of subfamily Polycaoninae (Coleoptera; Bostrichidae) from mid-Cretaceous Burmese amber

A new auger beetle, Cretolgus minimus gen. et sp. nov., of the subfamily Polycaoninae (Bostrichidae) is described from mid-Cretaceous Burmese amber. The new genus differs from the genera Melalgus Dejean, 1833 and Polycaon Castelnau, 1836 in the subcylindrical body, striate elytra, contiguous procoxal cavities, four-segmented tarsi, and small body size. This is the first fossil record of the subfamily Polycaoninae and the second record of Bostrichidae in Burmese amber.

The oldest Tenebrionidae (Coleoptera) of the subfamily Diaperinae and the tribe Scaphidemini from the Paleocene of Menat (France)

The oldest tenebrionid beetle Palaeobasanus neli gen. et sp. n. of the tribe Scaphidemini (subfamily Diaperinae) is described from the Paleocene of Menat (Thanetian) in France. The new extinct genus shows a distinct complex of characters of the tribe Scaphidemini, such as modified procoxal cavities, modified prosternal “cowling” and mesocoxal cavities partly closed by mesepimera. Palaeobasanus gen. n. differs from the extant Scaphidemini in the narrowly separated coxae, structure of prosternal process, which is moderately narrow at middle but strongly widened at apex and rounded (not truncate), abdominal intercoxal process, antennomeres 4–7 clearly covered by simple trichoid sensilla but without round sensory complexes as in recent Scaphidemini and Diaperini. All these mentioned characters seem to be symplesiomorphies within the tenebrionoid lineage, including oldest Mesozoic ‘tenebrionoid’ darkling beetles. It is thought that Palaeobasanus gen. n. could be a basal group within Scaphidemini, closely related to Diaperini, which probably existed at least in the border of the Mesozoic and Cenozoic.

Burmapseudomorphus planus gen. et sp. nov. – a Late Cretaceous stem group member of the specialized Pseudomorphini (Carabidae, Coleoptera) from northern Myanmar

A new adephagan beetle embedded in Burmese amber from northern Myanmar is described as Burmapseudomorphus planus gen. et sp. nov. From its broad and flat habitus, the lack of a pronoto-elytral angle, the short and broad head, the short mesoventrite, and the lancet-shaped elongate prosternal process it resembles beetles belonging to the aquatic Dytiscoidea. The metacoxal plates are similar to those of Noteridae. However, pubescent antennal flagellomeres, an anisochaetous protibial antenna cleaner, transversely oriented metepimera, and metacoxae not reaching beyond the lateral margin of the metaventrite identify the fossil as an atypical species of Carabidae. Externally closed procoxal cavities, lacking procoxal rests of the mesoventrite, a narrow mesepimeron not reaching the mesocoxal cavity, and lobate metepimera indicate a placement in a clade comprising Harpalinae and Brachininae. This is supported by analyses of morphological data and a Hennigian character evaluation. The short and transverse head, the streamlined body without pronoto-elytral angle, and the secondarily elongated prosternal process suggest a placement as stem group member of the specialized Pseudomorphini. In contrast to species of the crown group of this lineage, a distinct submento-mental suture is present, ventral cephalic antennal grooves are missing, and the elytra are not truncated posteriorly. The fossil is the first record for Pseudomorphini and documents an origin of this specialized group of Carabidae at least dating back to the Cretaceous. A superficial similarity with the extant migadopine genus Stichonotus (e.g. broad and oval body, apically pointed prosternal process) is the result of convergence.

The first species of Cotithene Voss (Coleoptera: Curculionidae: Curculioninae) from Amazonian Brazil, with notes on its role as a pollinator of Evodianthus funifer (Poit.) Lindm. (Cyclanthaceae).

Cotithene gorayebi Valente, da Silva de Medeiros, sp. nov. is the first species of Cotithene Voss, 1940 described from the Amazonian forest in Brazil. The new species differs from other described species of Cotithene by its integument color pattern dissimilar between sexes and by the procoxal cavities separated by only a narrow septum in both male and female. It furthers differs by the unique morphology of male and female genitalia. A previously published key and phylogenetic matrix to Cotithene species were each modified to include the new species. The historical trajectory of host associations (inflorescences of Cyclanthaceae) in Cotithene is reanalyzed with the inclusion of the host of the new species. Previously known species are believed to be non-pollinators of various Cyclanthaceae; however, field observations of adults of the new species on inflorescences in anthesis of Evodianthus funifer (Cyclanthaceae) strongly suggest that this may be the first species of Cotithene known to play a role as a pollinator of Cyclanthaceae.

Gonialaenini, a new tribe of Lagriinae (Coleoptera: Tenebrionidae) from Eocene Baltic Amber.

Based on well preserved specimen, Gonialaena groehni gen. et sp. nov. (Coleoptera: Tenebrionidae) is described from Eocene Baltic amber and assigned to Gonialaenini trib. nov. within the subfamily Lagriinae due to the combination of the following characters: labrum elongate; antennal sensilla simple; procoxal cavities closed at least externally; narrow membranes present between abdominal ventrites 3-5; mesocoxal cavities partly closed by mesepimeron, trochantine present; ovipositor of primitive lagrioid type-digitate fourth coxite lobe with gonostyles apically. Gonialaena gen. nov. combines characters of various Lagriinae tribes: humeral angles rounded, formed by basally widened epipleura as in Goniaderini, Pycnocerini and Lupropini; narrow acute intercoxal process of abdominal ventrite 1 as in Belopini, Cossyphini and Lagriini; absence (or strong reduction) of metathoracic wings as in most Adeliini and some Lupropini; large, reniform eyes as in Goniaderini, Pycnocerini, Lagriini and many Adeliini; present intersegmental membranes between abdominal ventrites 3-5 as in all lagriine tribes except for Belopini and Cossyphini; subcylindrical terminal maxillary palpomere as in Belopini and Cossyphini. Thus, the position of Gonialaenini trib. nov. within Lagriinae is not fully understood, but combination of certain features (humeral angles rounded but distinct and vertical border present at elytral base, inconspicuous elytral striae, large reniform eyes, narrow intersegmental membranes) points on morphological similarity with Goniaderini, especially some Anaedus Blanchard, 1845 with indistinct elytral striae and related genera.

Two new weevil tribes (Coleoptera: Curculionoidea) from Burmese amber

ABSTRACTIn this article, two new tribes, Burmomaceratini n. trib. with type genus Burmomacer n. gen. and Burmocorynini n. trib. with type genus Burmocorynus n. gen., two new genera, Burmomacer n. gen. with type species Burmomacer kirejtshuki n. sp. and Burmocorynus n. gen. with type species Burmocorynus jarzembowskii n. sp. and two new species, Burmomacer kirejtshuki n. sp. and Burmocorynus jarzembowskii n. sp. of the families Nemonychidae and Belidae from Cretaceous Burmese amber are described and illustrated. Burmomaceratini differ from all tribes of the subfamily Rhinorhynchinae in the widely separate procoxal cavities. Burmocorynini differ from the tribe Archicorynini in the loose club articles, long pronotum without lateral carinae, antennae inserted at base of rostrum, narrow forehead and large eyes. This is the first record of the family Belidae in the Burmese amber.

First fossil thaneroclerid beetle from mid-Cretaceous Burmese amber (Coleoptera: Cleroidea: Thanerocleridae)

Cai, C. & Huang, D., January 2018. First fossil thaneroclerid beetle in Upper Cretaceous Burmese amber (Coleoptera: Cleroidea: Thanerocleridae). Alcheringa 42, 115–119. ISSN 0311-5518.Thanerocleridae is a small family of Cleroidea with no fossil representatives to date. Here we describe and figure the first fossil representative of Thanerocleridae, Cretozenodosus fossilis gen. et sp. nov., from the mid-Cretaceous amber of northern Myanmar. Cretozenodosus is referred to the extant subfamily Zenodosinae as evidenced by its open procoxal cavities and transverse procoxae. Cretozenodosus has close affinities with the North American Zenodosus Wolcott, suggesting that modern Zenodosinae is probably a relict group. Our discovery of a new thaneroclerid genus from Burmese amber suggests that Thanerocleridae originated no later than the mid-Cretaceous.Chenyang Cai [cycai@nigpas.ac.cn] Key Laboratory of Economic Stratigraphy and Palaeogeography, Nanjing Institute of Geology and Palaeontology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Nanjing 210008, PR China; Diying Huang [dyhuang@nigpas.ac.cn] State Key Laboratory of Palaeobiology and Stratigraphy, Nanjing Institute of Geology and Palaeontology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Nanjing 210008, PR China.

First definitive fossil agyrtodine beetles: An extant southern hemisphere group recorded from Upper Cretaceous Burmese amber (Coleoptera: Staphylinoidea: Leiodidae)

Mesozoic leiodids are poorly known, and only one definitive leiodid is formally described from Burmese amber. Here we describe and illustrate the second definitive Mesozoic leiodid, Cretagyrtodes glabratus gen. et sp. nov., based on a single specimen from the Upper Cretaceous Burmese amber. The fossil is placed in Agyrtodini (subfamily Camiarinae) after maxillary palpomere 4 as wide as palpomere 3, and procoxal cavities closed behind. Cretagyrtodes is tentatively attributed to the extant “Eupelates group”. The discovery of Cretagyrtodes in Burmese amber suggests that the south hemisphere endemic tribe Agyrtodini is probably an ancient group, which has showed its first appearance before the breakup of Pangaea.

PM 7/109 (2) Epitrix cucumeris, Epitrix papa, Epitrix subcrinita, Epitrix tuberis

Specific scopeThis Standard describes a diagnostic protocol for adults of Epitrix cucumeris, Epitrix papa, Epitrix subcrinita and Epitrix tuberis.Specific approval and amendmentFirst approved in 2011‐09.Revision approved in 2016‐01.

A NEW WEEVIL TRIBE, MEKORHAMPHINI TRIB. NOV. (COLEOPTERA, ITHYCERIDAE) WITH TWO NEW GENERA IN BURMESE AMBER

<p>A new tribe, Mekorhamphini trib. n., two new genera <em>Mekorhamphus</em> gen. n. and <em>Habropezus</em> gen. n. and two new species (<em>M</em>. <em>gyralommus</em> sp. n. and <em>H</em>. <em>plaisiommus</em> sp. n.) are described from Burmese amber. The new tribe resembles the tribe Mesophyletini but differs from the latter by possessing contiguous procoxal cavities and very wide elytra with regular striae. From the tribe Anchineini, it differs by the contiguous procoxal cavities, precoxal portion of the prosternum elongated, and swollen trochanters. The new taxa can be distinguished from modern Carini by having antennae attached near the middle of the rostrum, an elongated precoxal portion of the prosternum and enlarged trochanters.</p>