Corotoca is a strictly Neotropical genus of termitophilous beetles associated with termites of genus Constrictotermes. A cladistic analysis based on 13 terminal taxa and 60 characters (57 morphological and three behavioral) was conducted. The exhaustive search with equally weighted characters resulted in two most parsimonious trees with 95 steps. Spirachtha is proposed to be the sister group of the monophyletic “subgroup Corotocae” (Corotoca + Cavifonexus gen. nov.), based on eleven synapomorhphies (ten exclusive and one homoplastic). The monophyly of Corotoca is supported here, including six species associated with Constrictotermes cyphergaster: (Corotoca hitchensi sp. nov + (C. melantho + C. pseudomelantho sp. nov.) + ((C. fontesi + (C. phylo + C. araujoi)). A new genus, Cavifronexus gen. nov., is proposed to two species associated with Constrictotermes cavifrons (Holmgren, 1910): Cavifronexus guyanae comb. nov., from Guyana and Brazil, previously described as Corotoca; and a new species, Cavifronexus papaveroi sp. nov., from Brazil. This work also includes descriptions, redescriptions, and illustrations for all species and genera. Keys for genera and species identification in “subgroup Corotocae” are also provided.

Corotoca Schiødte, 1853 is a Neotropical genus of termitophiles beetles, with five species, and its description marks the first record of insects associated with termites. A new species, Corotoca fontesi sp. nov., from Brazil, is described and illustrated, and a taxonomical problem regarding to the identification and nomenclatural status of two species, Corotoca phylo Schiødte, 1853 and Corotoca seeversi Fontes, 1977, is solved. Therefore, Corotoca seeversi is proposed as a new junior synonym of C. phylo, and the material identified as C. phylo housed in the Museum of Zoology of the University of São Paulo, Brazil (MZUSP) is recognized as a new species, Corotoca fontesi sp. nov. New morphological and sexual dimorphism data in the species, and solution of some messy informations about the genus present in the literature are also present.

Viviparity is characterized by the retention of fertilized eggs in reproductive tract of the female. This condition is very common in vertebrates, but relatively rare in invertebrates, including insects. The present work presents a review on viviparity in Staphylinidae, with special attention on genus Corotoca Schiødte, 1853. The genus is composed by six termitophilous species with neotropical distribution, and together with Spirachtha Schiødte, 1853 are only two genera with species confirmed as viviparous in the family. Some other cases are only supposition. Also, it is presented information and discussion on the life cycle of Corotoca species based on dissection of females in laboratory and field observations. During the dissection of females of four species of Corotoca it was observed that each female carries three eggs at the same time. The embryos present asynchronous development: when one is located at apex of abdomen, the other two are at IV segment, on abdomen curvature. These observations are complementary with those obtained in field observation, when the female deposits a larva outside the nest, on the foraging trail of termite Constrictotermes cyphergaster (Silvestri, 1901). The strategy of Corotoca species focused on the immature as dispersing agent is derived and probably favor the fitnees in relation to a hypothetical condition in which the adult is the dispersive agent.

Termitozophilus Silvestri 1901 is a Neotropical genus of termitophilous beetles, with two species, T. laetus Silvestri, 1901 and T. mirandus (Mann, 1923), in subtribe Timeparthenina Silvestri, 1901, which is a sister group of the remaining Corotocini Fenyes, 1918. A new species, Termitozophilus belleae sp. nov., from Brazil, is described and illustrated. The genus and the other two species are redescribed and illustrated, and morphological and general discussion of host, taxonomic information and key to species are present.

This study deals with the global estimation of the species of Corotocini (Aleocharinae) based on taxonomic description rates. We estimate the maximum number of possible extant species by maximum likelihood using the Michaelis-Menten model fitted into a non-linear regression. Although the studies regarding Corotocini are majorly taxonomic descriptions, the results suggest that there are many yet undescribed species, We also highlight that the basic knowledge regarding these organisms ecology is fairly obscure. Since the discovery of the first organism living in association with termites, the taxonomic effort hasn't been constant along the years, and although our results suggest that many species lie undiscovered, the lack of specialized professionals can compromise the actual knowledge regarding their biodiversity. Besides that, we comment on the future of this field and the lack of specimens from various locations.

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Corotoca Schiødte, 1853 é um gênero estritamente Neotropical de besouros termitófilos associados à cupins do gênero Constrictotermes Holmgren, 1910, e sua descoberta marca o primeiro registro de outros insetos vivendo associados a ninhos de cupim. Foi realizada a análise cladística e revisão taxonômica do grupo que até o início do presente trabalho contemplava cinco espécies. A análise cladística contou com 13 terminais (oito do grupo interno e cinco do grupo externo) e 67 caracteres, sendo 65 morfológicos e dois comportamentais. A busca exaustiva com pesagem igualitária resultou em uma árvore mais parcimoniosa (C=95). A topologia resgatou o gênero Spirachtha Schiødte, 1853 como grupo irmão de Corotoca com base em sete sinapomorfias, sendo uma homoplástica. O gênero Corotoca é monofilético e foi sustentado por seis mudanças, sendo quatro sinapomorfias únicas e duas sinapomorfias homoplásticas. São seis espécies associadas a Constrictotermes

Rove beetles belonging to the genus Corotoca (Staphylinidae: Aleocharinae) are termitophiles exclusively found in nests of Constrictotermes (Isoptera: Termitidae). We observed the reproductive behavior of Corotoca melantho and C. fontesi during host (C. cyphergaster) foraging events. The reproductive behaviors of both species are similar. The variables collected for analysis were distance traveled, the time of larval deposition, nest return time, and locomotion speed. The fact that the female stops in the middle of the foraging trail to deposit the larva leads to a discussion of how its physiological or voluntary mechanisms function to determine the correct stopping time and the importance of speed when returning to the nest as a strategy to avoid predation. This study provides new information concerning the life cycle of Corotoca spp., although complete understanding of host-termitophile relationships, their evolutionary history, and the significance of viviparity will require additional studies.