New species of Notocupes (Coleoptera: Archostemata) from the Middle Jurassic Daohugou beds, with discussion on the generic circumscription

Abstract

Exquisitely preserved fossils from the Middle Jurassic Haifanggou Formation (the Daohugou beds; ~165 Ma) and mid-Cretaceous Burmese amber (~99 Ma) are studied to clarify the external morphology of Notocupes. Three new species from Daohugou are described as N. spinosus sp. nov., N. robustus sp. nov., and N. daohugouensis sp. nov. Our examination of specimens from Burmese amber does not support the division of Notocupes into Notocupes s.s. and Echinocups. Therefore we treat Echinocups syn. nov. as a junior synonym of Notocupes, and N. ohmkuhnlei comb. rev., N. neli comb. rev. and N. denticollis comb. rev. are returned to Notocupes from Echinocups.