Paleoquirsfeldia 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 : 9

Genus Paleoquirsfeldia Otto , new genus

Type species. Paleoquirsfeldia epicrana Otto , new species, designated here.

Description. Body approximately four times longer than wide, dorsally convex and ventrally sclerotized. Head: Hypognathous with elongate setae. Frons convex, without median ridge or groove. Antennae setose, with 11 antennomeres; scape 4.0 times longer than pedicel; pedicel longer than flagellomere I; flagellomere I shorter than II; flagellomeres II–VIII slightly longer than wide and rounded in apical view; flagellomere IX asymmetrical, slightly longer than VIII. Compound eyes small, round. Genae with antennal groove between mandibular base and compound eye. Apical margin of frontoclypeal region rectangular, truncate, less than 2.5 times wider apically than the distance between antennal sockets. Mandibles stout. Maxillary and labial palpi concealed behind mandibles. Pronotum: Subparallel, convex and setose. Lateral sides slightly arcuate. Slightly longer than wide, with very small hind angles. Lateral pronotal ridge entire, slightly sinuate near apical 1/2. Prothoracic sternal peg basally broad, short. Notosternal suture shorter than the hypomeral base. Hypomeron with wide, shallow notosternal antennal grooves. Deep genal pit present near anterior end of notosternal antennal groove. Elytron: Elongate, convex, setose. Disc with no indications of striae. Legs: Pro-legs shortest, hind legs longest. Metatarsi, including claws longer than tibia. Metatarsomere I appear to be shorter than 2–5 combined. Metatarsomeres I– III simple. Metatarsomere IV excavate-emarginate, wider than III. Metatarsomere V elongate with simple claws. Venter: Punctate with long, recumbent setae present. Elytral epipleura not grooved. Metaepisternum parallel-sided. Metacoxal plates parallel-sided. Tarsal grooves absent on mesothoracic and metathoracic sterna. Abdomen with five medially convex, visible ventrites. Last visible ventrite caudally produced.

Etymology. The generic name is the combination of the stem, Paleo - which is derived from the Greek word Palaios meaning “old” and the root, Quirsfeldia Cobos , an extant eucnemid genus currently found in South America.