Haplochelidae, a new family of cretaceous beetles (Coleoptera: Myxophaga) from Burmese amber

A new family, genus and species of flightless beetles (Coleoptera: Lepiceroidea: Haplochelidae: Haplochelus: Haplochelus georissoides) are described from Cretaceous Burmese amber. Haplochelus georissoides is the first fossil that can be reliably placed in the Suborder Myxophaga. The new family is characterized by its small size (under 2 mm in length), long frons (extended anteriorly far beyond eyes), ventrally displaced, declined and reduced mouthparts, 7-segmented antennae with a triangular terminal club bearing a dense layer of setae, long mesosternum, very short metasternum, fused elytra with no evidence of a suture, and 1-segmented tarsi with a single and long claw terminating all legs. The new species has similarities with members of the extant Lepicerus Motschulsky, 1855, although it is distinct enough to be placed in a separate family.