Protolopheros hoffeinsorum sp. n.

(Figs 1–4)

Description. Male. Dark brown.

Eyes bulging, interocular dorsal distance ca. 2 times greater than eye radius. Ultimate maxillary and labial palpomeres considerably larger than preceding palpomeres, ca. 1.5 times longer than wide. Antennae filiform, attaining to elytral two fifths, with antennomeres 2 and 3 combined subequal in length to antennomere 4 (Figs 1–3).

Pronotum transverse, ca. 1.4 times as wide as long, with rounded anterior and small acute posterior angles. Scutellum almost quadrate, truncate at apex (Fig. 1).

Elytra flattened, long, 3.6 times as long as wide at humeri (Fig. 1).

Tarsomere 1 only slightly shorter than tarsomeres 2–4 combined (Fig. 2).

Length (from anterior head margin to end of elytra): 6.0 mm. Width (humerally): 2.0 mm.

Syninclusions. None.

Female. Unknown.

Type material: Holotype, 3, specimen No. 1424-1, Baltic amber, Eocene (Senckenberg Deutsches Entomologisches Institut, Müncheberg, Germany).

Diagnosis. Protolopheros hoffeinsorum sp. n., the only known representative of the genus, is easily distinguishable from other erotines by the generic characters.

Etymology. The new species is named after Christel Hoffeins and Hans Werner Hoffeins (Hamburg) who enabled me to study this remarkable Baltic amber beetle specimen.