Mesochodaeus daohugouensis, Ren, Dong, 2010

Ren, Dong, 2010, The oldest fossil Ochodaeidae (Coleoptera: Scarabaeoidea) from the Middle Jurassic of China, Zootaxa 2553, pp. 65-68 : 66-67

Mesochodaeus daohugouensis sp. nov.

( Figs. 1 , 2)

Holotype: CNU-COL-NN2009728, imprint of dorsal view, with good visible antennal club and left middle leg.

Etymology: The name of the new species is given for the locality where the fossil was collected.

Description: Body length 11.05 mm (excluding the apex of pygidium). Labrum bilobed. Anterior margin of clypeus nearly straight. Head slightly wider than long. Frons with two tubercles at anterior margin. Pronotum emarginate laterally, with arcuate lateral edges. Scutellum triangular. Elytra with striae, slightly wider than prothorax. Mesotibia distinctly longer than mesotarsus. Mesotarsomere 1 somewhat longer than mesotarsomeres 2 and 3 combined.

Measurements: Body length 11.05 mm (excluding the apex of pygidium); width of head 2.5 mm; median length of pronotum 2.5 mm, width 4.7 mm; elytron length at least 7.1 mm, width 3.4 mm; mesotibia length 2.3 mm; mesotarsus length 1.9 mm.

Remark: A comparison and diagnosis of the new species with other Mesozoic Ochodaeidae is given in the key below.

Figures

FIGURE 1. Photograph of the holotype of Mesochodaeus daohugouensis.