†Trichochterus gen. nov., a new genus of velvety shore bugs from Burmese amber with strong terrestrial adaptation (Insecta: Hemiptera: Ochteridae)

A new genus of the family Ochteridae (Hemiptera: Nepomorpha), †Trichochterus gen. nov., is described from mid-Cretaceous, with two new species: †T. zhengi sp. nov. and †T. nieseri sp. nov. The new genus can be distinguished from other ochterids by its unique antennal structure and the first documented occurrence of trichobothrium-like setae within the family. Notably, the presence of trichobothria in velvety shore bugs represents a distinctive morphological feature, potentially reflecting ecological specialization in riparian or terrestrial habitats. Detailed morphological descriptions, supported by high-resolution photographs and illustrations, highlight the diagnostic characters of †Trichochterus gen. nov., such as the elongate rostrum, ridged frons, cursorial legs, and tarsal formula. An updated identification key and a comparative table are provided to facilitate the classification of all extant and fossil genera of Ochteridae. Furthermore, the phylogenetic placement of the newly established genus was assessed based on a morphological matrix.

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