PANTOSTICTUS BURMANICUS, A NEW GENUS AND SPECIES OF CRETACEOUS BEETLES (COLEOPTERA: HYDROPHILOIDEA: HISTERIDAE) IN BURMESE AMBER

Pantostictus hurmanicus Poinar and Brown, a new genus and new species of hister beetles (Coleoptera: Hydrophiloidea: Histeridae) are described from Cretaceous Burmese amber. The new genus is characterized by the following: small size (under 2 mm), prognathous head; head, pronotum and elytra covered with deep punctures; a 9-segmented geniculate antenna terminated with a 1-segmented asymmetrical club; tarsal formula 5-5-5; pairs of spines on all tarsal segments, fused elytra covering most of the abdomen, and a postocciput bearing paired triangular-shaped sclerotized apophyses. This represents the first Cretaceous member of the family.