Anthocomus Erichson, 1840

Tshernyshev, Sergei E., 2021, A review of the genus Anthocomus Erichson, 1840 (Coleoptera, Cleroidea Malachiidae) species of Inner Asia, Zootaxa 4969 (3), pp. 511-525 : 514-515

Anthocomus Erichson, 1840

Anthocomus Erichson, 1840: 97 , type species Cantharis fasciata Linnaeus, 1758 fixed by Thomson, 1859: 112;

= Anthocomus (Paremballus) Abeille de Perrin, 1891: 187 ; type species Anthocomus fenestratus Linder,1864 fixed and synonymized by Mayor (2004: 88);

Anthocomus (Celidus) Mulsant & Rey, 1867: 131 , 135, type species Malachius equestris Fabricius, 1781 , designated by Mayor (2004: 89); = Anthocomus (Neotrotus) Abeille de Perrin, 1891: 187 ; type species Malachius bipunctatus Harrer, 1784 (junior synonym of Malachius equestris Fabricius, 1781 ) designated by Negrache & Hernandez (1990: 284);

Anthocomus (Omphalius) Abeille de Perrin, 1891: 187 ; type species Malachius haeres Abeille de Perrin, 1883 fixed by monotypy.

Diagnosis. Small or moderate-size beetles (c. 2.5–4.5 mm) with elongate and sub-parallel body evenly expanded posteriorly, various colouration, from black to a combination of red and black with metallic lustre. Head simple, eyes small, round; antennae 11-segmented, serrate, simple, 2 nd antennomere clearly visible, oval or triangular, 1.3 times as short as the 3 rd antennomere; palpi simple, slightly elongate, apical palpomere conic, disk of head flat, finely punctured, mat, shagreen, pronotum subquadrate with rounded angles, slightly impressed near posterior angles, mat, shagreen with fine punctation; elytra subparallel, slightly expanded posteriorly in females, and impressed at apices in male, impressions deep and possessing two spicular or lamellate appendages. Wings well developed in both sexes. Legs thin, slightly elongate, simple, or posterior tibia in male with indentation in middle, all tarsi 5-segmented, simple, anterior tarsi lacking comb above 2 nd segment. Pygidium (apical tergite) elongate, evenly narrower and rounded apically, 8 th ultimate abdominal ventrite (apical tergite) narrow, transverse, hollowed in middle, tegment with short base and thin elongate parameres, aedeagus of Malachiinae-type, simple, straight or somewhat curved dorsally, with round apex and short pointed lamella, one or two long spines visible in inner sac of the aedeagus.

Distribution. Species of the genus are widely distributed in Eurasia from Europe to the Far East, occurring mainly in forest or forest-steppe zones.