A new genus of fungus weevils (Coleoptera: Anthribidae) in Rovno amber

Abstract

New fungus weevils, Eduardoxenus unicus (ZooBank registration: urn:lsid:zoobank.org:act:5732 BC85-9148-4FE5-A4F6-46847BA0138D, urn:lsid:zoobank.org: act:4D3B3EA8-AE0E-4E6D-A770-B427AC19ED03) Legalov, Nazarenko et Perkovsky, gen. et sp. nov. (Coleoptera: Anthribidae), are described from late Eocene Rovno amber. The new genus is similar to the genus Cyptoxenus Valentine, 1982, but differs in coarsely faceted eyes, antennomere 2 shorter than antennomere 1 and an almost glabrous body. It differs from the genus Valenfriesia Alonso-Zarazaga et Lyal, 1999 in the coarsely faceted eyes, almost straight transversal carina on the pronotum and distinct elytral humeri, and it differs from the genus Neoxenus Valentine, 1999 in distinct lateral carina on the pronotum, coarsely faceted eyes and almost straight transversal pronotal carina. This fossil fungus weevil is the oldest finding of the tribe Valenfriesiini in fossil state and the first record of the Choraginae from the Eocene amber. The palaeogeographical and palaeoclimatological importance of finding Valenfriesiini in Rovno amber is discussed.