Fornax serropalpoides Otto, 2023

Otto, Robert L., 2023, The false click beetles (Coleoptera: Elateroidea: Eucnemidae) of the Dominican Republic. Part I: A look into the past, Insecta Mundi 2023 (973), pp. 1-23 : 16-17

Fornax serropalpoides Otto , new species

Fig. 20–21

Holotype. Embedded in ovoid Dominican Republic amber piece, 22 mm × 17 mm × 5 mm. Amber piece is clear dark yellow/orange with micro fractures, a few debris and one additional undescribed arachnid (spider).

Diagnosis. Very narrow, elongate form and smaller size (4.0 mm) will distinguish this species from any known Caribbean Fornax species.

Description. Length, 4.0 mm. Width, 1.25 mm. Habitus subcylindrical, moderately elongate and tapering towards the elytral apex; uniformly black; head, pronotum and elytra clothed with short, recumbent setae ( Fig. 20 ). Head: Closely punctate, subspherical with convex frons; surfaces shiny; apical margin of frontoclypeal region fairly evenly rounded, about 2.0 times wider than base; mandibles stout, bidentate, densely punctate. Antennae: Filiform, reaching about half the length of the body; flagellomere I longer than II; flagellomere II shorter than III; flagellomere III shorter than IV; flagellomeres IV–VIII each longer than wide, sub-equal; flagellomere IX longer than VIII. Pronotum: Closely punctate; surface shiny; longer than wide, with moderate hind angles; sides gradually narrowing craniad; disc simple; hypomeron with basally open lateral antennal grooves. Scutellum: Punctate, oblong, triangular and distally rounded. Elytra: Faintly indicated striae present; interstices slightly elevated, very closely punctate. Legs: First tarsomere as long as the combined lengths of the remaining four on mesothoracic and metathoracic tarsi; tibiae rounded in cross section; metatarsomeres I–III simple: metatarsomere IV excavate-emarginate; metatarsomere V short with simple claws. Venter ( Fig. 21 ): Punctate with short, recumbent setae; metaepisternum parallel-sided; metacoxal plates indistinct, obscured by exposed metathoracic wing.

Etymology. Specific epithet is derived from the unusual ventral appearance of the head and pronotum, which bears a close resemblance to a melandryid genus Serropalpus Hellenius.

Figures

Figures 19–23. Dominican amber Eucnemidae. 19) Fornax dominicensis Otto sp. nov., lateral view. 20) Fornax serropalpoides Otto sp. nov., dorsal view. 21) Fornax serropalpoides Otto sp. nov., ventrolateral view. 22) Dromaeolus argenteus Otto sp. nov., dorsolateral view. 23) Dromaeolus argenteus Otto sp. nov., ventrolateral view. (Scale: 19–23 = 2.0 mm).