Two new species of soldier beetles (Coleoptera: Cantharidae) from Eocene Baltic amber, including one with a rare type of antennae

Abstract

Two new species of the family Cantharidae from Baltic amber are described and illustrated: Sucinorhagonycha fabrizioi sp. nov. (Cantharinae, Cacomorphocerini) and Cantharis (Cantharis) samsocki sp. nov. (Cantharinae, Cantharini). The former is particularly notable because it has 12 antennomeres, a characteristic that is relatively rare among the world’s extant beetles, particularly in soldier beetles. This fascinating characteristic and why it may have evolved are explored here.