Paralithomerus, Chang, Huali, Zhang, Fan & Ren, Dong, 2008

Chang, Huali, Zhang, Fan & Ren, Dong, 2008, A new genus and two new species of fossil Elaterids from the Yixian Formation of Western Liaoning, China (Coleoptera: Elateridae), Zootaxa 1785, pp. 54-62 : 55

Genus Paralithomerus gen. nov.

Etymology. Generic name derived from the combination of Latin prefix “ para- ” and “ Lithomerus ”, for the new genus has great similarities to Lithomerus Dolin (1980) .

Type species: Paralithomerus exquisitus sp. nov.

Species included. Paralithomerus exquisitus sp. nov. and Paralithomerus parallelus sp. nov.

Diagnosis. The new genus differs from all other closely related genera within the same family by the following features: Metaventrite with transverse sutures, but prosternum without longitudinal furrows.

Remarks. The new genus can be assigned to the family Elateridae based on the following characters: (1) head with an exposed labrum; (2) prothorax with extended angles on the posterior corners; (3) with prosternal process and mesoventral cavity; (4) metacoxal plates well developed; and (5) abdomen with five ventrites.

The species of this new genus greatly resemble species of the genus Lithomerus ( Dolin, 1980) , but differ from the latter by the following characters: (1) head subtriangular, convex, with an exposed labrum; (2) antennae short, filiform; (3) basal margin of pronotum bisinuate, with basal pleural furrows; (4) hind angles of pronotum with distinct short carina; (5) prosternum without longitudinal furrows; and (6) metacoxal plates obtusely long triangular, slender, narrowed laterally.