The discovery of Burmolycus compactus gen. et sp. nov. from the mid-Cretaceous of Myanmar provides the evidence for early diversification of net-winged beetles (Coleoptera, Lycidae)

A new net-winged beetle, Burmolycus compactus gen. et sp. nov. (Coleoptera, Elateroidea, Lycidae), is described from mid-Cretaceous Burmese amber and the new tribe Burmolycini trib. nov. is erected for this species in Dexorinae Bocak et Bocakova, 1989. B. compactus is the oldest amber inclusion of a net-winged beetle. The discovery suggests the start of Lycidae diversification at least in the Mid-Cretaceous. The fossil was discovered in the area of the highest phylogenetic diversity of extant net-winged beetles, in deposits with a rich beetles fauna. The species is a member of the putative early radiation of this family and shows relationships with Afrotropical Dexorinae from which it differs in the dilated apical palpomeres, serrate antennae, and fully metamorphosed females. Burmolycus compactus shares 10-segmented antennae with several genera with proved or hypothesized neotenic females. The general appearance of Cretaceous B. compactus is surprisingly similar to extant net-winged beetles and may represent the example of their long-term morphological stasis. (C) 2019 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.