Fornax dominicensis 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

Fornax dominicensis Otto , new species

Fig. 19

Holotype. Embedded in a square-shaped Dominican Republic amber piece, 13 mm × 8 mm × 4 mm. Amber piece is clear dark yellow/orange with numerous small air bubbles, micro fractures and one additional undescribed insect (fly).

Diagnosis. Smaller size along with brown antennae and legs will distinguish this eucnemid species from any extant known Caribbean Fornax species.

Description. Length, 5.0 mm. Width, 1.25 mm. Habitus subcylindrical, moderately elongate and tapering towards the elytral apex; uniformly black; antennae and legs medium to dark brown; head, pronotum and elytra clothed with short, recumbent setae ( Fig. 19 ). 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 II–VIII each sub-equal, longer than wide; flagellomere IX longer than VIII. Pronotum: Closely punctate; surface shiny; longer than wide, with moderate hind angles; sides gradually narrowing craniad, arcuate; disc simple; hypomeron with basally open lateral antennal grooves. Scutellum: Slightly rugose, triangular and distally rounded. Elytra: Striae absent; disc densely punctate to rugose. Legs (mesothoracic only): Mesotarsomere I as long as 2–5 combined; tibiae rounded in cross section; mesotarsomeres I–III simple; mesotarsomere IV excavate-emarginate; mesotarsomere V short with simple claws. Venter: Punctate, with recumbent setae; metaepisternum parallel-sided; metacoxal plates medially 7.5 times wider than laterally.

Etymology. Specific epithet is derived from the location in which the fossil eucnemid was found.

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).