Burmomiles parisii, Fanti & Müller, 2022

Fanti, Fabrizio & Müller, Patrick, 2022, Fossil Cantharidae from the Cretaceous Burmese (Kachin) amber of the Patrick Müller collection, and taxonomic information, Baltic Journal of Coleopterology 22 (2), pp. 331-380 : 332-334

Burmomiles parisii sp. nov.

( Fig. 1 )

Holotype. Female, adult specimen in a Burmese (Kachin) amber piece: Catalog number SNHM­6004 in the Staatliches Naturhistorisches Museum Braunschweig (ex Müller’s collection number: BUB4457 ).

Type locality. Myanmar: Kachin state, Myitkyina District, Hukawng Valley.

Type horizon. Lowermost Cenomanian (98.79 ± 0.62 Ma), mid­Cretaceous.

Differential diagnosis. The genus Burmomiles is characterized by short elytra that do not reach the last abdominal segments, tarsal formula 5­ 5­ 5, elytra with shallow but dense punctuation arranged in striae, a pronotum enlarged and rounded at sides, the head rounded, and the unequal maxillary palpomeres with the last segment securiform (Fanti et al. 2018), all features present in the new species described here. The new taxon differs from other Burmomiles by its much more transverse pronotum. Furthermore, the other Burmomiles have pectinate antennae. Burmomiles laticollis Yang, Geiser & Liu, 2021 has a similar pronotum, but it has shorter elytra (less punctated) and pectinate antennae ( Yang et al. 2021).

Description. Adult, alate, robust. Female, for the shape of last sternite and short antennae. Entirely dark brown. Body length: 3.0 mm.

Head rounded behind the eyes, partially covered by the pronotum, surface with shallow punctation. Eyes prominent, subelliptical, inserted laterally to the head. Mandibles falciform. Maxillary palps 4­ segmented, with the last palpomere securiform. Labial palps 3­ segmented with the last palpomere securiform. Antennae 11­ segmented, filiform, inserted in the upper part of the head and not particularly close to the eyes, short, slightly surpassing the humeral zone of the elytra; scape club­shaped, very robust; antennomere II short, very wide and globular; antennomere III narrower than previous one and globular; antennomeres IV–X subequal, robust, swollen, longer than antennomeres II–III together; antennomere XI elongate, pointed apically; all antennomeres with setae. Pronotum very transverse, wider than head, anterior margin straight and slightly bordered, posterior margin almost straight, sides slightly curved and slightly bordered, surface completely flat with pubescence (just perceptible). Scutellum triangular­shaped with rounded apex. Elytra wider than pronotum, robust and wide, rounded at apex, not covering the last abdominal segment, wider at humeri, surface presenting a coarse and wide punctation gathered in evident striae visible for the entire elytral length. Metathoracic wings covered by elytra, and not visible. Sternum subquadrate with almost straight posterior margin. Sternites transverse and wide, last two tergites as a caudal large appendage, last sternite rounded presenting two slender and divergent lobes (oviduct). Legs very robust and with short and fitted pubescence; coxae short, robust; trochanters elongated with rounded apex; femora slightly curved, sturdier than tibiae; tibiae thin, elongate, cylindrical and slightly flat apically, pro­ and mesotibiae as long as pro­ and mesofemora, metatibiae longer than metafemora, with a robust spur at apex. Tarsal formula 5­ 5­ 5; first tarsomere about 1.3 times longer than second; second tarsomere elongated; third tarsomere triangular, very slightly enlarged at corners; fourth tarsomere flat, wide, very slightly lobated at corners; fifth tarsomere very elongated, thin, slightly curved, slightly enlarged apically; claws simple, very long, apparently without tooth at the base (with the base slightly wider).

Etymology. Named in honor of Francesco Parisi (University of Florence, Italy), friend of the first author (Fanti).

Syninclusions. Air bubbles, detritus, Hymenoptera (0.7 mm).

Remarks. Piece of clear, golden amber that measures 11x10x 4.5 mm. The inclusion is complete, but the pronotum and ventral side are not clearly visible.

Figures

Fig. 1. Burmomiles parisii sp. nov. in Burmese amber. A: Holotype, dorsal view; B: Holotype, ventral view.