Lyubarsky G.Yu.1, Perkovsky E.E.2 2015. New genus Microticus from Upper Cretaceous of Taymyr (Coleoptera: Cryptophagidae), oldest silken fungus beetle with sexually dimorphic tarsal formula // Russian Entomol. J. Vol.24. No.1: 61–66 [in English].
1 Zoological Museum of Moscow State University, Bol’shaya Nikitskaya str. 6, Moscow, 125009 Russia.
2 Schmalhausen Institute of Zoology, National Academy of Sciences of Ukraine, Bogdan Khmelnitski str. 15, Kiev 01601, Ukraine.
KEY WORDS. Cryptophagidae, Microticus khatanga, Upper Cretaceous, Taymyr amber, Russia.
ABSTRACT. Microticus khatanga Lyubarsky et Perkovsky gen. et sp.n. is described based on an inclusion in Upper Cretaceous (Santonian) amber from Taymyr (Russia). The new genus is similar to the extant Mnioticus, both differing from other genera of the tribe Cryptophagini by absence of tooth and callosity on sides of pronotum. The new species differs from Mnioticus by shape of sides of pronotum (parallel-sided in Mnioticus, convex in Microticus); length of ventrite 1 (equal to any of the remaining ventrites in Mnioticus, longer than those in Microticus); and tarsal formula of male (5–5–4 in Microticus, 5–5–5 in Mnioticus). The new genus is the first Mesozoic representative of Cryptophaginae. It is shown for the first time that sexual dimorphism in the tarsal formula was present in Cryptophaginae already in the Cretaceous.