The first Phengodidae fossil (Coleoptera: Elateroidea): Cretocydistus wittmeri gen. et sp. nov. from the mid-Cretaceous Burmese amber

Elateroidea superfamily holds a huge diversity, morphological variation and a myriad of habitat specializations. The presence of bioluminescence and paedomorphosis renders the group as an interesting model for several studies. The lampyroid clade manifests both features, in a variety of light displays and body-forms, but the small fossil records hampers any advance in understanding the origin of these characteristics, as well as the biogeographic history of the group. We present here the description of a new fossil species, Cretocydistus wittmeri gen. et sp. nov. from the mid-Cretaceous of northern Myanmar, the first fossil of the family Phengodidae. We putatively place the genus in the subfamily Cydistinae, which extant species are distributed in Asia Minor, the Levant, and Iran. We also discuss how the discovery of this fossil taxa influences the study of the family and the lampyroid clade evolutionary history and biogeography.

Automated summary

The Elateroidea superfamily is known for its extensive diversity, morphological variation, and specialization in various habitats. With the presence of bioluminescence and paedomorphosis, this group serves as an intriguing model for several studies. While lampyroid clade exhibits these traits through a variety of light displays and body forms, the lack of fossil records has hindered a deeper understanding of their origin and the biogeographic history of the group. In this study, a new fossil species, Cretocydistus wittmeri gen. et sp. nov., is described from the mid-Cretaceous period in northern Myanmar, representing the first fossil of the Phengodidae family. Through our analysis, we tentatively assign this genus to the subfamily Cydistinae, which includes extant species distributed in Asia Minor, the Levant, and Iran. The discovery of this fossil taxon has significant implications for the study of the family and the evolutionary history and biogeography of the lampyroid clade.