Podistra (Absidia) kloevedali, Fanti & Damgaard, 2018

Fanti, Fabrizio & Damgaard, Anders Leth, 2018, Fossil soldier beetles from Baltic amber of the Anders Damgaard amber collection (Coleoptera Cantharidae), Baltic Journal of Coleopterology 18 (1), pp. 1-32 : 16-18

Podistra (Absidia) kloevedali n. sp.

( Fig. 11 )

Holotype. Female, in Baltic amber, accession No. ALDC0457 /ALD. Ba.Can. 21

Type locality. Russia, Kaliningrad Region, Sambian Peninsula, amber quarry near Yantarny (previously known as Palmnicken).

Type horizon. Middle Eocene (Lutetian) (47.8- 41.2 MY) to Late Eocene (Priabonian) (37.8- 33.9 MY).

Differential diagnosis. No fossil Podistra has been described until now ( Fanti 2017a). Podistra kloevedali n. sp. is tentatively assigned to the subgenus Absidia for the claws with tooth at the base, because claws are simple in the subgenera Pseudoabsidia Wittmer, 1969 and Hemipodistra Ganglbauer, 1922 . The new species is distinguishable from Cantharis (s. str.) sucinonigra Kuśka, 1992 by the larger size (10 mm instead of 6 mm), coloration, different antennomeres, in particular, the pedicel almost three times shorter than III (twice shorter than III in C. sucinonigra ), and by the pronotum straight laterally instead of rounded. It is also distinguishable from Cantharis (Cyrtomoptila) sucinokotejai ( Kuśka, 1996) , which is the most similar species, by the different coloration, the larger size and eyes, and by the claws with tooth at base (without lobe or tooth in C. sucinokotejai ). Fin ally, it differ s fr om Cantharis (Cyrtomoptila) mikkelsenorum n. sp. in the different colour, claws, pronotum without ripples in the middle and straight at sides, and in the palps typically securiform.

Description. Adult, winged, flattened. Female, defined on the basis of the shape of last urites that are very wide and on short antennae. Body length 10 mm. Entirely reddish-dark brown except for the black head. Head completely exposed, pubescent, elongated and covered with numerous granules. Eyes extremely large, roundish and strongly convex. Mandibles not visible. Maxillary palps 4-segmented with the last palpomere securiform. Labial palps 3- segmented with the last palpomere elongated and securiform. Antennae inserted very near and in the upper part of the eyes, 11-segmented, short and slightly surpassing the humeral zone of elytra, filiform, with scattered long setae; scape robust, long and cylindrical; pedicel short, one-third as long as scape; antennomeres III-VIII filiform, subequal, and slightly shorter than scape; antennomeres IX-XI filiform, thin, subequal in length and slightly shorter than the pr evious. Pr on otum lon ger th an wide, rectangular (typical of Podistra ), as wide as the head and equipped by a short pubescence; basal surface convex and middle-anterior part flat; margins bordered and sides straight; propleura roundish. Scutellum reddish-brown, triangular, elongated and with slightly pointed apex. Elytra much wider than pronotum, elongate, covering the last abdominal segments, equipped by long and sparse setae and several short setae, parallel-sided and with rounded apex. Posterior wings covered by elytra. Abdominal segments large and rectangular with short pubescence. Legs very pubescent; coxae short and massive; trochanters elongated and enlarged; femora robust; pro- and mesotibiae thin, short and cylindrical, equipped by two spurs, metatibiae very long. Tarsi 5- segmented; first segment slightly elongated and enlarged; second slightly shorter than first (in the metatarsi the second is one-half length of the first); third segment bilobed at sides; fourth segment strongly bilobed at sides with lobes thinner and longer than lobes of the third segment; fifth thin and elongated; claws simple with very thin and slightly elongated tooth at the base (posterior claws simple, without denticle).

Etymology. This new species is named in honour of the Danish pioneer, longtime sailor,

author and lecturer Troels Kløvedal (born Troels Beha Erichsen), in recognition of his trips with the Nordkaperen ship.

Syninclusions. Air bubbles, wood remains, one Diptera , and one small leg (probably of midge).

Remarks. The rectangular amber piece measures 20 x 46 x 5.5 mm. The inclusion is ventrally and laterally covered by a white cotton-like cloud (emulsion, milky substance).

Figures

Fig. 11. Podistra (Absidia) kloevedali n. sp. in Baltic amber. A: Holotype, dorsal view, bar = 1.0 mm; B: Holotype, detail of head and pronotum, bar = 500 μm; C: Holotype, detail of antenna, bar = 800 μm; D: detail of tergites and apex of elytra, bar = 1.0 mm.