Neusiokia Muona, 2022

Muona, Jyrki, 2022, New fossil false click-beetles from the Americas (Coleoptera: Eucnemidae), Insecta Mundi 2022 (912), pp. 1-11 : 2-3

Neusiokia Muona , new genus

Etymology. Named after the Native American people once inhabiting the Neuse River area of North Carolina.

Type species. Neusiokia appalachiensis new species

Diagnosis. Elateroidea (sensu stricto) synapomorphy: pro-mesocoxal clicking mechanism present.

Eucnemidae synapomorphies: pedicel attached subapically to scape, labrum hidden.

Eucnemidae other characters: all abdominal ventrites connate ( Fig. 1 ).

The combination of protibiae with two apical spurs and f7–f9 being enlarged and flattened exists in only one extant species [ Palaeoxenus dohrni (Horn) ], and one Baltic amber species, [ Erdaia bispinulosa Muona ]. Of these two, Neusiokia resembles E. bispinulosa in size and general appearance, but has stronger antennae, much stronger legs with pronounced spine-combs on meso- and metatibiae and a more rounded general appearance. Palaeoxenus species are much larger, parallel-sided, and flat, with elevated median prosternal keel and proportionately much smaller head

Description. Elateroidea synapomorphy: pro-mesocoxal clicking mechanism present.

Eucnemidae synapomorphies: pedicel attached subapically to scape, labrum hidden.

Form narrowing more caudad than craniad ( Fig. 1 , 2 ). Head rounded, eyes medium sized, frontoclypeal region wide, mandibles elongated with simple apex ( Fig. 4 , 5 ). Pronotum about as wide as long, lateral and frontal margins simple, scutellum wider than long, elytra with rounded sides, striae distinct, sutural ones strong apically with excretory punctures ( Fig. 2 ). Antennal fairly short, f7–f9 forming loose, fattened club (Fig. 4,5). Hypomeron simple, metasternum without mesocoxal lines. Metacoxal plates elongate, about twice as wide at midline as on sides. Legs long with well-developed spine-combs, tarsomere 4 simple, claw simple, protibial apex with two spurs.

Figures

Figure 1. Neusiokia appalachiensis n. sp., holotype, ventrolateral view.

Figure 2. Neusiokia appalachiensis n. sp., holotype, dorsal view.

Figure 4. Neusiokia appalachiensis n. sp., holotype, ventral view of head, pro- and mesothorax.

Figure 5. Neusiokia appalachiensis n. sp., holotype, ventrolateral view of pronotum and head.