Description of adult and larval Loricera from mid-Cretaceous Kachin amber (Coleoptera: Carabidae)

Abstract

Loricera is a morphologically distinctive genus in Carabidae, exhibiting specialized feeding habits on springtails. Here we provide descriptions for both adult and larval specimens of Loricera from mid-Cretaceous Kachin amber. The adult specimen, named as Loricera carsteni Li, Tihelka & Cai sp. nov., is characterized by the posteriorly unconstricted pronotal disc with produced anterior pronotal angles, wide and almost orthogonal elytral humeri, and elytral surface with no more than ten punctate striae. The validity of previously reported Cretoloricera is also critically reviewed.