LAASBIUM SCUDDER: A GENUS OF TERTIARY EARWIGS, NOT ROVE BEETLES, AND THE CLASSIFICATION OF FLORISSANT FOSSIL DERMAPTERA (INSECTA)

The Tertiary genus Laasbium Scudder, originally described with two species and as a lineage of staphylinid beetles (Coleoptera: Staphylinidae) from the Eocene-Oligocene boundary of Florissant, Colorado, is re-evaluated. Examination of the original series for Laasbium agassizii Scudder (type species) and Laasbium sectile Scudder reveal that these represent incompletely preserved earwigs (Dermaptera). The genus Laasbium is transferred to the order Dermaptera and comments provided on the classification of Florissant fossil earwigs, all previously placed in the genus Labiduromma Scudder. A lectotype is designated for Laasbium agassizii and the following six new genera erected to accommodate the diversity of Florissant fossil earwigs (authorship of all taxa is Engel and Chatzimanolis): Petrolabis (type species: Labiduromma gurneyi Brown), Litholabis (type species: Labiduromma gilberti Scudder), Rupiforficula (type species: Labiduromma scudderi Brown), Geroncolabis (type species: Labiduromma tertiaria Scudder), Spiladopygia (type species: Labiduromma exsultatum Scudder), and Paleocarcinophora (type species: Labiduromma lithophila Scudder). The following new combinations are established: Petrolabis gurneyi (Brown), Litholabis gilberti (Scudder), Rupiforficula scudderi (Brown). Rupiforficula labens (Scudder), Rupiforficula inferna (Scudder). "Laasbium" sectile, a poorly-preserved lateral compression, is considered genus incertae sedis.