Tshernyshev S.E. 2021. The revision of soft-winged flower beetle genus Dicranolaius Champion, 1921 (Coleoptera: Cleroidea: Malachiidae) with description of a new genus Australolaius gen.n. from Australia // Invertebrate Zoology. Vol.18. No.2: 159–176 [in English].
Institute of Animal Systematics and Ecology, Russian Academy of Sciences, Siberian Branch, Frunze Street, 11, Novosibirsk, 630091, Russia. E-mail: sch-sch@mail.ru
doi: 10.15298/invertzool.18.2.07
ABSTRACT: The genus Dicranolaius Champion, 1921 is revised, the type species, Laius (Dicranolaius) falcifer Champion, 1921 is redescribed, and the differential male characters of the genus are discussed, namely 5-segmented anterior tarsi with the comb above the 2nd tarsomere, enlarged and modified 1st and 3rd antennomeres, and simple head, legs and pronotum lacking impressions or protuberances. A new genus, Australolaius Tshernyshev, gen.n. with a type species Dicranolaius weiri Liu, Ślipiński et Pang, 2015 is described for several Australian Dicranolaius species with male special characters as follows: anterior femora are stout and hollowed externally, urites are elongate and emarginated, and apex of the aedeagus is spicular-shaped. The external appearance, special male characters and genitalia of the type species of the studied genera are illustrated, and a distribution map are provided. A key to the Laius-group genera of the tribe Apalochrini is also provided.
KEY WORDS: Malachiidae, Apalochrini, Laius-group, Dicranolaius, Australolaius, revision, new genus, taxonomy.