The oldest silken fungus beetle from the Early Cretaceous of southern China (Coleoptera: Cryptophagidae: Atomariinae)

New species of the genus Nganasania from Upper Cretaceous of Taymyr (Coleoptera: Cryptophagidae)

“…Mesozoic finds are quite rare. First of all, from the Lower Cretaceous of southern China Atomaria cretacea was described [Cai, Wang, 2013]. In this work of Cai & Wang, there is a brief overview of the fossil Cryptophagidae, including Cenozoic Era.…”

First species of Atomaria (Coleoptera: Clavicornia: Cryptophagidae) from Bitterfeld amber and several notes on Miocene and Cretaceous Cryptophagidae

“…In Cai & Wang [2013], the type species it is placed in the extant Atomariinae based on the presence of a distinct frontoclypeal suture. However, the length of prosternal process and anterior part of prothorax are not typical for the tribe Atomariini, nor the length of the first ventrite.…”

“…Shixitomaria gen.n. is established for Atomaria cretacea Cai et Wang, 2013 from the Early Cretaceous of China. Mesozoic fauna of Cryptophagidae consist of five extinct genera; in Cenozoic cryptophagid fauna extinct genera unknown.…”

New genus Microticus from Upper Cretaceous of Taymyr (Coleoptera: Cryptophagidae), oldest silken fungus beetle with sexually dimorphic tarsal formula

“…Atomaria cretacea has been described from the Lower Cretaceous of southern China [Cai, Wang, 2013]. Otherwise the Mesozoic fossils include genera not represented in the modern fauna: known from the Upper Cretaceous of Taymyr are Nganasania khetica Zherikhin, 1977 [Zherikhin, 1977] and N. taymyrica .…”

“…However, further studies are required to estimate the validity of attributing Cai and Wang's findings to the genus Atomaria. Cai and Wang wrote: "Owing to the lack of sufficient detailed characters (e.g., tarsal formula, glandular ducts, maxillary palpi) of the tiny impression, the fossil can be only tentatively assigned to the modern widespread genus Atomaria based on its parallel-sided body, and general habitus, including three-segmented antennal club, parallel pronotum and prosternum lacking parallel lines" [Cai, Wang, 2013]. These characters, however, are not sufficient for a reliable attribution to the genus.…”