Cretopityobius Otto, 2019

Otto, Robert L., 2019, Descriptions of two new elateroid beetles (Coleoptera: Eucnemidae, Elateridae) from Burmese amber, Insecta Mundi 702 (702), pp. 1-6 : 4

Cretopityobius Otto , gen. nov.

Type species. Cretopityobius pankowskiorum sp. nov., designated here.

Description. Body approximately five times longer than wide, dorsally convex. Head: Hypognathous with elongate setae. Frons impressed, with transverse frontal carina above frontoclypeal region. Antenna: Bipectinate, elongate with 11 antennomeres; scape 4.0 times longer than pedicel; pedicel globular, subterminally attached to scape, as long as antennomere III; antennomere III shorter than antennomere IV; antennomeres IV shorter than V; antennomeres V–X sub-equal in length, longer than wide and rounded in cross sectional view; antennomeres IV–X each biramose with delicate, elongate, flattened rami aris- ing from base of each segment; each rami slightly widened apically; antennomere XI simple, slightly longer than X. Compound eyes large, round. Pronotum: Arcuate, sinuous laterally, convex and setose. Longer than wide, with well-developed, truncate hind angles. Lateral pronotal ridge entire. Hypomeron simple, without antennal grooves. Elytron: Elongate, convex, setose. Disc with strong, distinct striae. Interstices convex, elevated. Legs: Prothoracic legs shortest, Metathoracic legs longest, slightly longer than prothoracic legs. Metatarsi, including claws as long as tibia. Metatarsomere I slightly shorter than 2–5 combined. Metatarsomeres I–III simple. Metatarsomere III with membranous ventral lobe. Metatarsomere IV excavate-emarginate, ventrally setose, wider than III. Metatarsomere V elongate. Claws simple. Venter: Setae inconspicuous. Elytral epipleura not grooved. Metacoxal plates medially 3.0–6.0 times wider than laterally. Tarsal grooves absent on meso- and metaventrite. Abdomen with five visible ventrites, medially convex. Last visible ventrite evenly rounded caudally.

Etymology. The generic name is the combination of the stem, Creto - which is derived from the Latin word Crēt(a) meaning “chalk” or “clay” taken from the word Cretaceous, a period in the Mesozoic era from which the amber deposit were formed and the root, Pityobius LeConte for an elaterid genus, for which the group superficially resembles a Nearctic group in form. Gender: masculine.