Yethiha Caterino, 2021

Caterino, Michael S., 2021, New Fossil Histerid Species from Cretaceous Burmese Amber (Coleoptera: Histeridae), The Coleopterists Bulletin 75 (1), pp. 211-221 : 215-217

Yethiha Caterino , new genus

zoobank.org/ urn:lsid:zoobank.org:act:3EF50BC4-EC89-408D-8DAC-7636EFE18455

Type Species. Yethiha peregrina Caterino , new species.

Diagnosis. This extinct genus is distinguished by its strongly convex, elongate oval body form; complete

lack of dorsal striae or carinae; frons with a continuous carina along the anterior margin of the eyes, over the antennal bases, and along the epistomal margin; labrum wide, short, plurisetose, but with prominent setae at each side; antennal club elongate, tomentose, with two complete annuli; pronotum with simple lateral and anterior margins, anterior emargination deep; scutellar shield tiny or absent (obscured by air bubbles in fossil); elytron with weakly developed lateral marginal elytral carina and rounded apex; prosternal keel elevated, narrow, truncate posteriorly; prosternal lobe short, incised at sides for passage of antennal funicle; antennal cavity not well defined, antennal club lying exposed at sides of hypomeron in repose; procoxa strong, transverse; profemur with well-developed ventral groove for reception of tibia; protibia with well-defined tarsal groove along inner edge of anterior surface, with one moderate and one small apical spur; mesoventrite only very weakly emarginate along anterior edge, metaventrite broad, weakly convex; metanepisternum exposed, more widely so posteriad; propygidium short, barely exposed (difficult to see in fossil); tarsi 5-5-5; tarsal claws simple, separate.

Derivation of Name. Ye Thiha is among the Burmese “nats”, legendary messengers of ancient rulers. Ye Thiha is supposed to have died after entering the forest, as this beetle did upon becoming stuck in resin. Gender: feminine.

Yethiha peregrina Caterino , new species zoobank.org/ urn:lsid:zoobank.org:act:97E353B9-49F9-4363-A8DD-74D8C85934B4 ( Figs. 10–13 )

Type Material. Holotype specimen, of unknown sex. Type locality: northern Myanmar: probably Hukawng Valley , collected during 2018; deposited in MSCC. The specimen was purchased by the author. The specimen is largely free of fractures. However, numerous tiny air bubbles are adhering to most body surfaces, obscuring fine details of sculpturing. Posterior views are slightly obscured by the protruding right flight wing and a small fracture extending posteriad from the elytral suture. The specimen also includes numerous larger dust or pollen particles.

Description. Total body (pronotum + elytra) length: 1.37 mm; maximum (humeral) width: 0.98 mm; pronotal length: 0.53 mm; pronotal width: 0.82 mm. Body strongly convex, elongate oval; frons smooth, flat, with a continuous lateral carina along the anterior margin of the eyes, over the antennal bases, and rounded near (but not coincident with) the anterior epistomal margin; antennal scape short, thickened; funicle not visible; antennal club elongate, tomentose, with two complete annuli; pronotum with lateral margins very weakly explanate, narrowed to front, anterior corners acutely projecting behind eyes, anterior emargination deep; posterior margin of pronotum obtuse, pointed at middle; flight wings present (right wing exposed beyond elytra); elytron with weakly developed lateral marginal elytral carina but no other obvious striae, apex rounded (not truncate); prosternal keel apparently with longitudinal striae in basal portions (difficult to observe); prosternal lobe short; procoxa strong, transverse; profemur with well-developed ventral groove for reception of tibia; protibia broadly rounded, finely spined along outer edge, with one moderate and one small apical spur; mesoventrite only very weakly emarginate along anterior edge, metaventrite broad, weakly convex; with well-developed postmesocoxal stria that recurves to the mesepimeron; pygidium smooth, flat; meso- and metatibiae weakly widened to apex, finely spined along outer edges; tarsomeres simple, with pair of apicoventral spines, the terminal tarsomere about twice as long as basal tarsomeres.

Derivation of Name. The species name is a Latin adjective that means “traveler”, as through time.

Syninclusions. The original piece of amber acquired included four other (unidentified) beetles and a fly (Diptera). The holotype has been cut from this piece but they are stored together.

Figures

Figs. 10–13. Yethiha peregrina, new species. 10) Anterior view; 11) Dorsal view; 12) Lateral view; 13) Ventral view.