Two new genera and species of the termite symbiont lineage Termitohospitini (Coleoptera, Staphylinidae, Aleocharinae) from Bolivia and peninsular Malaysia

Abstract

Coptotermocola clavicornis gen. & sp. n. and Neotermitosocius bolivianus gen. & sp. n. of the termite inquilinous tribe Termitohospitini are described from peninsular Malaysia and Bolivia, respectively. The Termitohospitini are most readily diagnosable by the distally migrated anterior tentorial pits that are no longer associated with the antennal fossae, and by the enlarged vertex which obscures the antennal fossae dorsally. Additionally, the Termitohospitini are hypothesized to share a recent common ancestor with the Masuriini and Myllaenini due to shared derived morphologies of the lacinia distal teeth with lateral cuticular processes, presence of a unique maxillary palpomere III sensilla, and anterolateral angles of mentum produced. Habitus photographs and illustrations of diagnostic features are provided for the two new genera in order to facilitate future work.

Discovery of termitophilous rove beetles associated with Formosan subterranean termite Coptotermes formosanus in Taiwan, with the first larval description for the tribe Termitohospitini (Coleoptera: Staphylinidae)

“…The members of the tribe Termitohospitini are known to be termitophilous, mostly associated with Coptotermes Wasmann, 1896 or Nasutitermes Dudley, 1890 (SEEVERS 1941(SEEVERS , 1957KANAO et al 2012). Adults are mostly found in termite nests, but no immature stages have been reported prior to the present study.…”

“…Adults are mostly found in termite nests, but no immature stages have been reported prior to the present study. Termitohospitini is hypothesized to be closely related to the tribes Myllaenini and Masuriini based on the morphology of the adult mouthparts (KANAO et al 2012). At present, immature stages are only known for three genera among Myllaenini (THAYER et al 2004).…”

Phylogenetic review of the tribal system of Aleocharinae, a mega‐lineage of terrestrial arthropods in need of reclassification

“…Therefore, Termitohospitini is now divided into two subtribes, Termitohospitina and Hetairotermitina. Species of Termitohospitini differ from all other Aleocharinae, including Myllaenini, in the following putative synapomorphies: anterior tentorial arms of the head migrated anteriorly and disassociated from antennal fossae (Seevers, 1941); 2) antennal fossae dorsally obscured by enlarged vertex (Seevers, 1941); 3) lacinia with basal paired cuticular processes reduced in size (Kanao et al, 2012); processes of anterolateral angles of mentum reduced in size (Kanao et al, 2012); and ligula broad and reduced in length (Kanao et al, 2012). At the same time in Termitohospitini and Myllaenini, there are a median division of the fourth maxillary palpomere and a sensory patch on lateral surface of the third maxillary palpomere.…”

“…Image in Figure 52 from Assing (2020). Image in Figure 58 from Kanao et al (2012). Image in Figure 59 from Yamamoto et al (2016).…”

Early Evolution of Specialized Termitophily in Cretaceous Rove Beetles

“…Order cies and approximately 1,300 genera grouped in 63 tribes. Among this diversity there are approximately 740 species (204 genera in 22 tribes) that are associated with termites, of which 12 tribes consist exclusively of termitophilous species [16]. Aleocharinae represent one of the most distinctive and arguably the most successful radiations of termitophiles [11].…”