A new spiny reticulated beetle (Coleoptera: Cupedidae) from Cretaceous Burmese amber

A rare archaic beetle, Mallecupes cleevelyi sp. n., (Insecta: Coleoptera: Archostemata: Cupedidae) is described from mid-Cretaceous Burmese amber. This unique beetle's distinctive form includes spines developed on the hammer-shaped head and pronotal 'shield'. The ornamentation is possibly protective and the conspicuous eyes point to nocturnal activity. A new subgenus, Mallecupoides subgen. nov., is proposed for this species in line with recent revision of the reticulated beetles.