Pyrearinus termitilluminans, sp.n., with description of the immature stages (Coleoptera, Elateridae, Pyrophorini)

Costa, Cleide

doi:10.1590/s0101-81751982000100003

Cited by 11 publications

(15 citation statements)

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“…comm.) as well as several different species of beetle larvae (Tenebrionidae, Cincindelidae, and Elateridae) and fly larvae (Asilidae) found in the soil shells (Costa 1982). Of particular interest are abundant larvae of the genus Pyrearinus (Elateridae) which live in the shells of Comitermes mounds and produce light in the body segment immediately behind their heads.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

The Termitaria of Cornitermes cumulans (Isoptera, Termitidae) and Their Role in Determining a Potential Keystone Species

Redford¹

1984

Biotropica

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The role of the termitaria of Cornitermes cumulans in the ecology of the Brazilian cewado was examined. The mounds of C. cumulans were studied to determine density per hectare, rate of mound abandonment, structure, and other inhabitants, and were compared with four other sympatric mound-building termite species. Predation on Cornitermes was also examined. The average termitaria density for all five mound-building species was 323 per hectare. C, cumulans mounds averaged 55 per hectare. In comparison with the mounds of other termites, a higher proportion of those built by Cornitermes were inhabited by the moundbuilding species. The large size and unique bipartite structure of C, cumulans mounds make them excellent nesting locations for ant and termite inquilines. At least 17 species of termites and 10 species of ants were found nesting in different Cornitermes mounds. Only one percent of the mounds were found uninhabited by any ant or termite species. Armadillos had attacked 36 percent of the mounds; there was a strong correlation between such attacks and the absence of a Cornitermes colony. The frequency with which the large and abundant Cornitermes mounds are inhabited by inquilines and used by other animals gives these structures an important part in the ecology of the Brazilian cewado and contributes to the role of their builders as a keystone species. RESUMO0 papel dos termiteiros de Cornitermes cumulans na ecologia do cerrado brasileiro foi examinado neste estudo. 0 s termiteiros de C, cumulans foram estudados para determinar densidade por hectare, taxa de abandonamento de ninhos, estrutura e habitantes adicionais, e foram comparados com outras quatro especies que constroem ninhos de barro. Foi tambkm examinada a predasHo sobre Cornitermes. A densidade mkdia de cupinzeiros, para todas as cinco espkcies, foi de 323 por hectare. Ninhos de C. cumulans foram econtrados com uma mkdia de 55 por hectare. Em comparaGo com ninhos de outras espkies, uma proporslo maior dos contruidos por Cornitermes estavam habitados pela mesma espkcie que construiu o ninho. 0 tamanho grande e a estrutura bipartida dos termiteiros de C. cumulans fazem deles excelentes ninhos para formigas e outros cupins. Pelo menos 17 espkcies de cupins e 10 espkcies de formigas foram encontradas nidificando em diferentes termiteiros de Cornitermes. Em somente um porcento dos ninhos, nHo foi detectada a presenp de formigas e outras espiries de cupins. Trinta e seis porcento dos termiteiros foram atacados por tatus. Foi encontrada uma forte correlaGo entre ataques por tatbs e ausencia da colbnia de Cornitermes. A frequhcia com que os grandes e abundantes ninhos de Cornitermes sHo habitados por inquilinos e utilizados por outros animais faz com que estas estruturas tenham um papel importante na ecologia do cerrado brasileiro, e atravks delas, contribui para que Cornitermes seja considerada uma espkcie-chave. TERMITE MOUND DENSITIES AVERAGE 323 PER HECTARE inthe open vegetation formations of central Brazil. This abundance suggests that the termi...

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Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

The Termitaria of Cornitermes cumulans (Isoptera, Termitidae) and Their Role in Determining a Potential Keystone Species

Redford¹

1984

Biotropica

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“…I recently found that these lights were produced by the larvae of an undescribed species of pyrearinus. Costa (1982) named the new species termitilluminans.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…I recently found that these lights were produced by the larvae of an undescribed species of pyrearinus. Costa (1982) named the new species termitilluminans.The author recently found in Mathews (1977: 51) reference to :\ similar form of bioluminescence from unidentified Elaterid larvae living in the gallery forest mounds of Cornitermes bequaerti. An explanation similar to the one advanced in this paper was offered by Mathews.…”

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confidence: 99%

Prey attraction as a possible function of bioluminescence in the larvae of Pyrearinus termitilluminans (Coleoptera: Elateridae)

Redford

1982

Rev. Bras. Zool.

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Elaterid beetle larvae. Pyrearinus termitilluminans (sp .n., Costa, 1982.) Over twenty functions of bioluminescence have been advanced (Buck, 1978). Prey attraction has been suggested as a probable cause for luminescence in only two cases, benthic fishes (refs. in Buck, 1978) and fungus gnats (refs . in Lloyd, 1978; Sivinski, in press). This study reports an additional example of prey attraction in a Neotropical elaterid beetle larva, pyrearinus termitilluminans.As early as 1850 travelers to central Brazil have reported termite mounds with "pale glows of phosphorescent light, like coals in the ashes" (Smith, 1879; Castelnau in Branner, 1909). Various explanations were offered for these mysterious lights, from fungus and bacteria to the termite mounds themselves (Knab, 1909;Neiva & Penna, 1916; Branner, 1909) . Harvey (1952), in his comprehensive review of bioluminescence suggested that the lights might emanate from an insect living in or collecting on the termite hills, singling out glowworms, fireflies and dipterous larvae as possible candidates. I recently found that these lights were produced by the larvae of an undescribed species of pyrearinus. Costa (1982) named the new species termitilluminans.The author recently found in Mathews (1977: 51) reference to :\ similar form of bioluminescence from unidentified Elaterid larvae living in the gallery forest mounds of Cornitermes bequaerti. An explanation similar to the one advanced in this paper was offered by Mathews. METHODS AND RESULTSIn 1980 and 1981, in Emas National Park in the western region of Goills State, Brazil, the phenomenon of bioluminescent termite mounds was observed. Pyrearinus larvae in general are similar to those of all Pyrophorini, differing mainly in the way they luminesce (Costa, 1978). However, P. termitilluminans larvae are very different than other pyrearinus larvae so far examined (Costa, pers. comm.). Larvae obtained from two termite mounds have an average length of 17.9 mm (S. D . = 5 .0; N = 180) and ranged

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“…The phenomenon of the bioluminescent termite nest from Central Brazil is very impressive; it is the result of the luminescent activity of Pyrearinus termitilluminans Costa, 1982 (Elateridae, Agrypninae) larvae, which are found in old nests of Cornitermes cumulans (Kollar in Pohl, 1832) (Termitidae, Nasutitermitinae), one meter or more in height. These larvae excavate an intricate network of tunnels in the outer layers of the mounds leading outside, from where they stick out their head and their green shining luminous prothorax (in dorsal decubitus) to attract and catch flying preys, especially termites and ants (Hymenoptera, Formicidae).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Larvae of some dipteran species of the family Mycetophilidae that live in caves use the bioluminescence as lure to attract their prey [16]. Larvae of P. termitilluminans exhibit the behavior of entrapping them [17,18]). Each larva lives inside a U-shaped gallery that opens on to the outside, where it shows its head and its green-shining prothorax to attract and catch winged preys [19].…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Coleoptera Larval Fauna Associated with Termite Nests (Isoptera) with Emphasis on the “Bioluminescent Termite Nests” from Central Brazil

Costa

Vanin

2010

Psyche: A Journal of Entomology

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Beetle larvae that inhabit termite nests present modifications that allow them to cohabitate with the termites. Some are physogastric and bear special glands and different setae all over their bodies, whereas others are not physogastric. Both kinds of larvae may be termite predators. Some species usually live in the nest cabbage pan, feeding on organic matter, mushrooms, and excrements or eating the nest walls and sometimes causing the nest to be destroyed. Other species live in superficial galleries of the nest and feed on preys that live outside. However, all interactions between these inquilines beetles and their termite hosts are very complex and still little understood. Emphasis was done to the bioluminescent termite nests from Central Brazil and for this reason general aspects of the bioluminescence related to the elaterid fireflies were also given. The adaptations to live in nest environment and functional categories of association of all beetle larvae we have studied, including those not bioluminescent, to termite nests are discussed in this work.

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Pyrearinus termitilluminans, sp.n., with description of the immature stages (Coleoptera, Elateridae, Pyrophorini)

Abstract: Pyrearinus termitilluminans, sp.n., type-locality: Brazil, Goiás, Parque Nacional das Emas, is described based on larvae, pupa and adults collected from nests of Cornitermes sp

Cited by 11 publications

References 5 publications

The Termitaria of Cornitermes cumulans (Isoptera, Termitidae) and Their Role in Determining a Potential Keystone Species

The Termitaria of Cornitermes cumulans (Isoptera, Termitidae) and Their Role in Determining a Potential Keystone Species

Prey attraction as a possible function of bioluminescence in the larvae of Pyrearinus termitilluminans (Coleoptera: Elateridae)

Coleoptera Larval Fauna Associated with Termite Nests (Isoptera) with Emphasis on the “Bioluminescent Termite Nests” from Central Brazil

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