Paolaltica eocenica, Biondi, Maurizio, 2014

Biondi, Maurizio, 2014, Paolaltica eocenica new genus and new species of flea beetle (Coleoptera: Chrysomelidae: Galerucinae: Alticini) from Baltic amber, Zootaxa 3852 (4), pp. 496-500 : 498-500

Paolaltica eocenica sp. nov.

( Figs 2 , 3 a, 3b)

Type material. “ Holotype / Paolaltica eocenica sp. nov. / Biondi M. des 2014” [red printed label]; probable female. The holotype will be deposited in the entomological collection of the author housed in the Department of Health, Life and Environmental Sciences, University of L'Aquila ( Italy), for permanent preservation. The complete beetle is embedded in a relatively small, subrectangular and slightly curved amber piece (length = 21.5 mm, max width = 11.6 mm, max height = 3.0 mm; weight = 0.96 grams). No small gas bubbles exist, but a few cracks are diffusely spread throughout the amber piece. Other animal or plant syninclusions are absent. The specimen is well visible in sub-ventral and sub-dorsal view (left side); other views are not possible because of the shape and structure of the amber piece.

Type strata. Baltic Amber, Upper Eocene, Prussian Formation (Priabonian). Estimated age: 37.2–33.9 my.

Type locality. Russia: Kaliningrad region: the Sambian [Samland] peninsula: Yantarny village [formerly Palmnicken].

Etymology. The specific epithet refers to the geologic time of the specimen’s origin.

Description. Body length (LB) about 2.00 mm; length of pronotum (LP): 0.47 mm; length of elytra (LE) about 1.60 mm; length of left antenna (LAN): 1.05 mm. Dorsal integument apparently golden green with clear metallic reflections (some reflections may represent reflective surfaces within surrounding amber); ventral parts dark bronze with weak metallic reflections; legs clearly blackened, apparently with weak metallic reflections. Antennae longer than half of body length (LAN/LB ≈ 0.52); each antennomere proportional to following numerical sequence: 56:29:37:59:77:52:73:66:68:67:100 (right antenna). Pronotal punctation uniformly and moderately impressed. Elytral punctation arranged in regular rows, apparently clearly impressed up to apical declivity.

Figures

FIGURE 2. Paolaltica eocenica gen. and sp. nov., holotype: habitus in dorso-lateral view.

FIGURE 3. Paolaltica eocenica gen. and sp. nov., a) holotype: habitus in ventral-lateral view; b) line drawing.