<i>Fantosmium</i>, a New Genus of Onthophilinae From Mid‐Cretaceous Kachin Amber (Coleoptera: Histeridae)

We describe and illustrate <i>Fantosmium qizhihaoi</i> gen. et sp. nov., a new histerid beetle from mid-Cretaceous Kachin amber, and evaluate its phylogenetic position based on morphological characters. Our analysis recovers <i>Fantosmium</i> as part of the extant subfamily Onthophilinae, allied to the Cretaceous genera <i>Cretonthophilus</i> Caterino et al., <i>Phasmister</i> Caterino, and <i>Carinumerus</i> Caterino. It resembles these fossil genera in possessing ventrally open hypomeral antennal cavities and a projecting prosternal lobe. <i>Fantosmium</i> is particularly distinctive in its elytral morphology, exhibiting weakly elevated elytral carinae ornamented with small denticles, an intercarinal surface bearing irregular reticulate sculpture, explanate and irregularly punctate epipleura, and a strongly undulate posterior elytral margin. The discovery of <i>Fantosmium</i> provides new insights into the early evolutionary history and morphological diversity of Onthophilinae.