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)
Liang Wei-Ren, Maruyama Munetoshi, Kanao Taisuke, Iwata Ryûtarô, Li Hou-Feng
Acta Entomologica Musei Nationalis Pragae 60(1): 77-87, 2020
Published online: 29th February 2020
Published in print: 15th June 2020
Views: 1599
Abstract: The Formosan subterranean termite, Coptotermes formosanus Shiraki, 1909
(Blattodea: Rhinotermitidae), is a well-known pest of wood structures. Its
native range has been widely investigated for potential implications for pest
control strategies. Termitophilous staphylinid species of the genera
Japanophilus Maruyama & Iwata, 2002 and Sinophilus Kistner, 1985 found in
nests of C. formosanus have been used to infer the native range of their host
termite. Herein, we extend the range of these two genera to include Taiwan, the
type locality of C. formosanus. Taiwanese specimens were identified as J. hojoi
Maruyama & Iwata, 2002 and S. yukoae Maruyama & Iwata, 2002 based on
morphological and molecular data. The first-instar larva of J. hojoib is
described, the first known immature stage of the tribe Termitohospitini
(Coleoptera: Staphylinidae: Aleocharinae).
Key words: Coleoptera, Staphylinidae, Aleocharinae, Rhinotermitidae, social insect symbionts, termitophiles, Taiwan