Amazotaxia Otto, 2023

Otto, Robert L., 2023, A revision of Dyscolotaxia Horn, 1890 (Coleoptera: Eucnemidae: Macraulacinae: Macraulacini), with the description of Amazotaxia new genus from South America, Insecta Mundi 2023 (21), pp. 1-15 : 11

Genus Amazotaxia Otto , new genus

Type species. Plesiofornax tetratoma Chassain , designated here.

Description. Male. Body elongate, approximately 3.5 times longer than wide, dorsally convex and ventrally well sclerotized. Head: Surface with short, recumbent setae. Antennae with 11 antennomeres, tubular, rounded in cross-sectional view, setose; capitate with very elongate flagellomeres VI–IX; scape 3.0 times longer than pedicel; pedicel globular, subterminally attached to scape, shorter than flagellomere I; flagellomere I longer than flagellomere II; flagellomere IX slightly longer than VIII. Compound eyes round, well developed, small, not incised. Antennal groove absent in genal regions between base of mandible and compound eye. Frontoclypeal region subtriangular, apically rounded, ~2 times wider than the base. Mandibles well developed, robust. Maxillary and labial palpi concealed behind mandibles. Labrum concealed. Pronotum: Arcuate, convex, and setose. Laterally narrowed apically. About as long as wide. Lateral pronotal ridge entire. Disc convex; base sinuate. Scutellar shield: Longer than wide, distally rounded. Elytron: Elongate, convex, laterally marginate, setose. Disc with well-developed, smooth-lined striae. Humeral region striate. Interstices flattened. Excretory punctures/groove present at elytral apices. Legs: Prothoracic legs shortest, metathoracic legs longest. Prothoracic tibia apically rounded, flattened, setose with one apical spur. Lateral side of mesothoracic and metathoracic tibiae with setae and flat spines. First prothoracic tarsi with basal sex combs. Metathoracic tarsi, including claws, as long as tibia. Metathoracic tarsi I–III simple, round. Metathoracic tarsi IV short, excavated-emarginated, as wide as III. Metathoracic tarsi V short with simple claws. Tarsal formula 5-5-5. Venter: Surfaces with recumbent setae. Prothoracic sternal peg basally broad, short. Notosternal suture about as long as hypomeral base. Hypomeron with medially undefined, very shallow lateral antennal grooves. Elytral epipleura punctate, not grooved. Metathoracic episterna parallel sided. Metathoracic coxal plate medially 3.0–6.0 times wider than laterally. Tarsal grooves absent on mesothoracic and metathoracic sterna. Abdomen with 5 visible ventrites, convex medially.

Etymology. The generic name is a combination of two words, the stem of the new name, ‘ Amazo -’, is based on the word Amazon, a region of South America from where the eucnemid was previously discovered and the root ‘ -taxia ’, in which it is based from the root of the related group, Dyscolotaxia . Gender: feminine.

Diversity. The new group is monotypic, with a single species known only from French Guiana.