Discovery of two new genera of detritivorous aquatic beetles Toneroides, in the Venezuelan Amazon (Coleoptera: Noteridae: Noterinae)

Analysis of specimens of Tonerus wheeleri (MALUZ) reveals two distinct lineages. This finding led to the description of Tonermorpha gen. nov. with two species, T. unguilonga sp. nov. and T. submersa sp. nov. and Tonerinus gen. nov. with eight species: Tonerinus amazonas sp. nov., T. amazonensis sp. nov, T. amazonicus sp. nov., T. hypognathus sp. nov., T. pemonus sp. nov., T. sazhnevi sp. nov., T. spangleri sp. nov. and T. toboganensis sp. nov. Tonerinus gen. nov. differs from Tonerus Miller, 2009, in having serrate metatibial spurs, and other diagnostic features. Tonermorpha gen. nov. with long, slightly curved nails on each tarsus for a better grip on rocky stream substrates distinguishes it from both genera in addition to other diagnostic characters of its own. Tonerinus gen. nov. and Tonermorpha gen. nov. are distinguished by: Spines on the basal mandible margin and lacinia; microspinous margins on femurs and tibiae (very marked on the protibia of Tonerinus); a dorsoventral spur on the protibia; crenulate protarsal nails; serrate metatibial spurs (the posterior one doubly so); bitruncate (Tonerinus) or doubly sinuate (Tonermorpha) apical margin of the proventral process. A detritivorous and scavenging behavior is proposed for adults in all three genera, different from the predatory behavior generally associated with the family Noteridae, based on the spiny characteristics of the mandible and lacinia. All species are described and illustrated in detail, including habitus, genital terminalia, genital sclerites, sclerites.