“Attagenus” burmiticus from mid-Cretaceous amber reinterpreted as a member of Orphilinae (Coleoptera: Dermestidae)

Abstract

Various dermestids have been reported from mid-Cretaceous Burmese amber (e.g., Deng et al., 2017; Háva & Damgaard, 2017; Háva, 2020, 2021). Among them, Attagenus burmiticus Cai et al. was the first adult described from this deposit (Cai et al., 2017). This fossil was originally attributed to the extant genus Attagenus in subfamily Attageninae. However, an important character was overlooked when they made this placement. Attagenus burmiticus has metacoxae meeting elytral epipleura laterally, which are unknown in any other Dermestidae except subfamily Orphilinae (Háva, 2004; Lawrence & Ślipiński 2005). In this study, we re-examine the holotype of A. burmiticus and transfer it into genus Nothattagenus Li & Cai gen. nov. in Orphilinae, as Nothattagenus burmiticus comb. nov.