Asymelyris Tshernyshev, Alekseev, Bukejs, Vasilenko, Legalov & Perkovsky, 2025

Tshernyshev, Sergei E., Alekseev, Vitalii, Bukejs, Andris, Vasilenko, Dmitry V., Legalov, Andrej A. & Perkovsky, Evgeny E., 2025, First record of the family Melyridae (Coleoptera: Cleroidea) in late Eocene European ambers with description of a new tribe, a new genus and seven new species, Zootaxa 5696 (4), pp. 542-566 : 546-547

Subgenus Asymelyris Tshernyshev, Alekseev, Bukejs, Vasilenko, Legalov & Perkovsky , subgen. nov.

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Type species: Amelyris ( Asymelyris) paucidentatus Tshernyshev,Alekseev, Bukejs, Vasilenko, Legalov & Perkovsky, sp. nov., by present designation

Diagnosis. Antennal club asymmetrical; sutural margin widened apically on elytral slope; third elytral carina tending to bend and merging with second carina at elytral apex; pygidium and last visible abdominal ventrite simple, lacking tufts of black bristles or hairs.

Etymology. The name of the new subgenus is a combination of the old Greek prefix ἀ- / ἀν- (meaning “not”), the initial syllable sy- derived from συμμετρικός (meaning “symmetrical”) and Melyris , the type-genus in the family Melyridae . The compound name refers to the asymmetrical antennal club of the subgenus representatives. Gender masculine.

Composition. The subgenus includes four extinct Eocene species: Amelyris ( Asymelyris) paucidentatus sp. nov. (Baltic amber), Amelyris ( Asymelyris) lupatus sp. nov. (Baltic amber), Amelyris ( Asymelyris) groehni sp. nov. (Baltic amber), and Amelyris ( Asymelyris) jutlandicus sp. nov. (Danish amber).

Key to the species of Amelyris gen. nov. from Baltic, Rovno and Danish amber

1. Dilated antenomeres forming a loose symmetrical club; sutural margin of equal width along entire elytron ( Amelyris subgen. nov.)............................................................................................... 2

- Apical antennomeres widened outwards, forming a loose asymmetrical club; sutural margin widened apically on elytral slope ( Asymelyris subgen. nov.).............................................................................. 4

2. Lateral sides of pronotum bicarinate (with two longitudinal carinae)............................................ 3

- Lateral sides of pronotum tricarinate (with additional thin third carina between two main carinae).............................................................................................. A. ( Amelyris) tricarinatus sp. nov.

3. Body parallel, narrow, flattened; pronotum appears rounded-square, not narrowed anteriorly; humeral carina thin, curved towards third carina, poorly visible at humeral base; elytral apex flattened............... A. ( Amelyris) elongatus sp. nov.

- Body distinctly widened posteriorly, more or less oval, not flattened ventrally; pronotal disc appears trapezoidal, narrowed anteriorly; humeral carina short, curved, distinct along entire humerus; elytral apex not flattened.................................................................................................. A. ( Amelyris) sveneldi sp. nov.

4. At least one lateral carina of pronotum dentate, lower carina arcuate, not parallel to upper carina; humeral carina straight, distinct along the entire humerus......................................................................... 5

- Lateral carinae of pronotum not dentate, straight, parallel, lower one not rounded, slightly protruding; humeral carina either curved or visible only at humeral base.................................................................... 6

5. All carinae of pronotum and elytral margin with small denticles; body narrow, almost parallel-sided; pronotum weakly transverse; sutural interval in elytra as wide as adjacent ones; elytral apex narrowly flattened and not elevated; first tarsomere 2.5× shorter than second tarsomere.............................................. A. ( Asymelyris) lupatus sp. nov.

- Small denticles visible only on lower carina of pronotum, upper carina and elytral margin without denticles; sutural interval of elytra 1.5× wider than neighbouring ones; body looks wide; pronotum distinctly transverse; elytral apex distinctly flattened and elevated upwards; first tarsomere 1.5× shorter than second tarsomere.............. A. ( Asymelyris) paucidentatus sp. nov.

6. Pronotum impressed only laterally at posterior angles, not impressed distally before anterior angles; middle part of disc convex; longitudinal carinae of elytra very thin, only third carina more pronounced; lateral margins widened at middle, not flattened distally. Elytral apices rounded separately. Body appears almost parallel-sided and narrow. Humeral carina very thin, poorly visible. First tarsomere twice shorter than tarsomere 2............................ A. ( Asymelyris) jutlandicus sp. nov.

- Pronotum widely impressed at sides and distally; middle part of disc flattened; longitudinal carinae of elytra strongly expressed, elevated; lateral margins widened from base to apex of elytra. Elytral apices rounded together and straightly cut at apex. Body oval, widened behind. Humeral carina thin, prominent at base of humeral tubercle. First tarsomere 2.5× shorter than tarsomere 2......................................................................... A. ( Asymelyris) groehni sp. nov.