Different faces, same attitudes: behavioral mimicry and description of a new termitophilous species of the remarkable rove beetle genus Thyreoxenus (Staphylinidae, Aleocharinae, Corotocini) from Brazil with notes on post-imaginal growth.

Among the termite-associated fauna, rove beetles of the subfamily Aleocharinae are distinguished by exhibiting the majority of convergent evolutions to this lifestyle. This phenomenon known as termitophily brings many advantages, including the care of nestmates and the exploitation of resources. While some mechanisms that ensure the integration of the termitophiles into the colony are well known, such as chemical mimicry, others remain unclear. In this article, we discuss the importance of termitophile behavior for the stability of interactions within termite colonies. We address behavioral mimicry as an important integration mechanism between termitophiles and termites. We compare both termitophile's and termite's behavioral repertoires and found no significant differences between them, suggesting that social parasites can mislead their host through their behavior in order to exploit the colony and to keep positive interactions with their hosts. In addition, we describe a new species of termitophile rove beetle from a highland humid forest in northeastern Brazil: Thyreoxenus alakazam sp. nov., with detailed illustrations and comments on post-imaginal growth in the context of our hypothesis of the post-imago phenotype, known as stenogastry, as a recapitulation of ancestral conditions in physogastric rove beetles.

Euryachen seuzei, a new genus and species of Placusini (Coleoptera: Staphylinidae: Aleocharinae) from Brazil.

The tribe Placusini (Coleoptera: Staphylinidae) consists five genera with worldwide distribution. Despite great morphological diversity, the species are easily recognized by their 4-4-5 tarsal formula and the two-articulated labial palpi, along with a broad and rounded ligula. Several synapomorphies proposed by earlier authors, both for larvae and adults, have led to the conclusion that the tribe now is considered monophyletic within Aleocharinae. Herein, a new genus and species of Placusini from Brazil is described and illustrated. Euryachen seuzei gen. et sp. nov. presents all the proposed synapomorphies for the tribe, in addition to unique characters. An updated key for the genera in Placusini is also provided.

Two new species of the termitophilous rove beetle genus Xenogaster Wasmann from Brazil (Staphylinidae, Aleocharinae, Corotocini).

Xenogaster Wasmann, 1891, is a Neotropical beetle genus of termitophilous beetles, comprising ten species disjunctly distributed. During the study of specimens of the Museu de Zoologia da Universidade de São Paulo, collected during expeditions to Southeastern Brazil, two new species were discovered. Xenogaster pseudonuda sp. nov. and X. kymopoleia sp. nov., are described and illustrated. A discussion is provided regarding the tarsal condition in Xenogaster and the coeloconic sensilla on antennomere III, constituting the first record for the subtribe Termitogastrina.

A new species and morphological notes on the remarkable termitophilous genus Austrospirachtha Watson from Australia (Coleoptera: Staphylinidae: Aleocharinae).

Termitophilous rove beetles in Australia encompass diverse genera and species from several tribes in Aleocharinae. While some taxa have been well-documented, others remain poorly known due to the scarcity of available material. The existing knowledge of Austrospirachtha Watson for instance, is based solely on Austrospirachtha mimetes, described from two specimens collected in an old termite mound. The genus is known for its highly developed physogastry and potential mimicry adaptations. Herein, we present the description of a new species, Austrospirachtha carrijoi sp. nov., representing the second known species for the genus.

A New Termitophilous Rove Beetle from Brazil Suggests an Undersampling Scenario and Cospeciation between Termites and their Termitophiles in the Neotropical region (Coleoptera: Staphylinidae: Aleocharinae).

Numerous staphylinid species can be found in termite nests. While the distributional range of termite hosts has been well studied, the same cannot be said for their associated fauna. There is a lack of comprehensive sampling even in areas where termite fauna has been well-sampled. In recent surveys in Southeastern Brazil, we collected a new species of termitophilous rove beetle from the tribe Termitohospitini (Aleocharinae): Termitosocius boraceiensis sp. nov., is herein described. The new species is the first termitophile found in Boracéia, SP, Brazil, even with decades of termite sampling in the place. Additionally, we discuss the diversity and description rate of neotropical Termitohospitini, and investigate the potential of cospeciation between termites and their termitophilous beetles on the Emerson-Kistner principle. Our findings suggest that the neotropical Termitohospitini may be more diverse than previously believed and that Termitosocius species are present in host species that are geographically separated, implying a cospeciation scenario. Additional sampling is required to fully comprehend the relationships between termitophiles and their termite hosts. The outcomes of this study provide new insights into the undersampling scenario and possibly cospeciation between termites and their termitophiles in the Neotropical region.

Microlia cayaponia, a new pollen-feeder species from Brazil (Staphylinidae: Aleocharinae: Hoplandriini) and its potential competitionin pollinator activity in Cayaponia plants (Cucurbitaceae).

Microlia Casey is a genus of small rove beetles from the New World and Australasia. Many species are recorded to be associated with the flowers of Cucurbitaceae, Solanaceae, Asteraceae, and Monimiaceae. In this work, a new species from Brazil associated with flowers of Cayaponia (Cucurbitaceae), Microlia cayaponia Zilberman & Pires-Silva sp. nov., is described and illustrated. Aspects of its natural history are also investigated, with insights on foraging, reproduction, and the supposed impact on the plant and pollinator's fitness.

Dilacera, a new astonishing Amazonian genus of termitophilous rove beetle (Staphylinidae: Aleocharinae: Termitonannini) and updated checklist of the subtribe Termitonannina with their termite hosts.

The subtribe Termitonannina consists of eight genera of termitophilous rove beetles from the Neotropical region associated with termites of the subfamilies Apicotermitinae, Nasutitermitinae, Syntermitinae, and Termitinae. A new genus, Dilacera Zilberman & Pires-Silva gen. nov. is established, and a new species, Dilacera exokosmos Zilberman & Pires-Silva gen. et sp. nov., from the Brazilian Amazon, is described and illustrated, with its morphological distinctiveness within the subtribe, discussed. Remarks on the host relationship with Uncitermes teevani (Emerson, 1925) (Termitidae: Syntermitinae) are provided, with an updated checklist of termitophilous species and their associated hosts within Termitonannina, including a discussion on confusing nomenclatural takes on termite hosts.