A new genus and a new species of railroad-worm beetles from Bolivia (Coleoptera, Phengodidae, Mastinocerinae)

Abstract

Here I describe a new genus, Geiserocerus gen. nov., based on a single species, Geiserocerus flavifrons sp. nov., from Parque Nacional Amboró, Santa Cruz, Bolívia. This new genus can be easily separated from most Mastinocerinae genera by the presence of a ventral comb in the pro- and mesotarsomere I and by the medial teeth of the mandibles. I provide a modified key to Mastinocerinae genera with 12-segmented antennae and the pro- and mesotarsomere I with ventral combs, as well as illustrations of the diagnostic features for this new genus. Finally, I discuss the genus similarities with other phengodid genera in order to hypothesize the genus relationships in the family.