Malthodes sucinopenninus, Kuśka, Antoni & Kania, Iwona, 2010

Kuśka, Antoni & Kania, Iwona, 2010, New soldier beetles (Coleoptera, Cantharidae) from the Eocene Baltic amber, Zootaxa 2400, pp. 49-56 : 54-55

Malthodes sucinopenninus sp. nov.

( Figs 14 – 16 )

Diagnosis. Similar to Malthodes penninus Baudi, 1871 in structure of last sternite but different from it in body size and elytral length: about 0.5 times as long as M. penninus and elytra uniformly brownish-black.

Etymology. The species name is derived from Latin “ sucinum ” – amber and penninus – species name of similar species.

Description. Body ( Figs 14–15 ) 2.4 mm long. Upper part of body almost completely black, shining, slightly pubescent. Eyes convex, their diameter as long as length of frons. Last segment of maxillary palp fusiform. Antennae filiform; segment 1 club-shaped, twice as long as segment 2, subsequent segments similar to one another and last segment slightly longer, tapered; antennae greyish-brown and pubescent. Pronotum rectangular, almost twice as wide as long, with distinct margins; anterior corners slightly truncate. Scutellum rounded posteriorly. Elytra slightly shorter than abdomen, reaching penultimate tergite; surface rough and shining. Last abdominal segments ( Fig. 16 ) well visible. Last tergite narrow, shallowly emarginated; penultimate segment twice as wide as last, strongly emarginate. Last sternite bifurcated apically, penultimate one emarginate almost to base. Syninclusions. Orthoptera exsuvium and two tufts of oak hairs.

Materials examined. Type material. Holotype, No. 1221 - 1, male; Eocene, Baltic amber ( DEI).

Figures

FIGURES 14 – 16. Malthodes sucinopenninus sp. nov. 14. Holotype, dorsal view. 15. Holotype, dorsal view with particular of pale and antennae visible. 16. Last segments of abdomen, ventral view; st 9 - the penultimate sternite; st 10 – the last sternite; tg 9 – the penultimate tergite; tg 10 – the last tergite.