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.

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.

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.

The Earliest Corotocini (Insecta: Coleoptera: Staphylinidae) from Dominican Amber, with Remarks on Post-Imaginal Growth Influence on Termitophile Taxonomy.

Pareburniola dominicana Zilberman, Yin & Cai gen. et. sp. nov. is the very first fossil record of the tribe Corotocini, reported from Miocene Dominican Republic amber. The new species, which is based on a stenogastric individual, is described and illustrated and is included in the subtribe Corotocina due to the combination of a tarsal formula 4-4-4, an elongated gula, a developed labial palp, a reduced fourth palpomere, separated metacoxae and a glandular structure on the posterior region of the head. Since the taxon belongs to the physogastric tribe Corotocini, which presents post-imaginal growth, this phenomenon is herein discussed, and its current knowledge is used to understand the possible outcomes during morphological changes in the fossil species.

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.

Hidden Brazilian Amazon diversity: four new species, redescription and notes on natural history of Termitozophilus Silvestri, 1901 (Coleoptera: Staphylinidae: Aleocharinae).

The genus Termitozophilus Silvestri (Coleoptera: Staphylinidae: Aleocharinae: Corotocini) is composed of three species that are associated with termite nests of the genus Cornitermes Wasmann in South America. Although this termite genus is widespread in the Amazon region, the species of the rove beetle genus Termitozophilus associated with it are less known. In this paper, we describe four new species of Termitozophilus species from the Brazilian Oriental Amazon. Furthermore, we provide information on natural history, post-imaginal growth, behavior, and a taxonomic key to all valid species.

Synopsis of the genus Termitozophilus Silvestri (Coleoptera, Staphylinidae, Aleocharinae, Corotocini).

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.

First record of stenogastric Corotoca Schiødte (Staphylinidae, Aleocharinae, Corotocini) with notes on behavior, morphology and its phylogenetic significance.

Physogastric rove beetles are usually studied in an aspect of the physogastry concept, which is defined as the enlargement of membranous parts of abdomen. This feature along with lack of the secondary sclerotization is used to differentiate physogastric from stenogastric individuals. Charles H. Seevers was the first author to record that the differences between physogastric and stenogastric rove beetles represent more than merely body size difference and that the secondary sclerotization, which occurs during the post-imaginal growth, leads to differences beyond that matter. Herein, we record the first stenogastric Corotoca specimen, and the morphological and behavioral differences of physogastric individuals are discussed. It is concluded that stenogastric individuals have features that may have useful implications for phylogenetic and taxonomic studies.

New species and synonymy in the genus Corotoca Schiødte, 1853 (Coleoptera, Aleocharinae, Corotocini).

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.

New species of Corotoca Schiødte, 1853 from South America and description of first instar larva.

Corotoca Schiødte, 1853 is a Neotropical genus of termitophile beetles, with five species. The establishment of this genus marks the first record of insects living associated to termites. A new species, Corotoca pseudomelantho Zilberman, sp. nov. from Brazil and Argentina, based on adult and first larval instar, is described and illustrated. The first instar larva of C. melantho Schiødte, 1853, a related species, is redescribed and illustrated. This is the first record of Corotoca species from Argentina.