Thorictus, Germar, 1834

HáVA, Jiří, Lenoir, Alain, Dahbi, Abdallah & Amor, Fernando, 2012, Cataglyphis viatica (Fabricius, 1787) (Hymenoptera: Formicidae), host ant for Thorictus buigasi Escalera, 1923 (Coleoptera: Dermestidae: Thorictinae) from Morocco., Arquivos Entomolóxicos 7, pp. 95-98 : 96

Thorictus buigasi Escalera , 1923

Material examined: Morocco, Marrakesh (31°41’50.8“N, 7°59’17.2“W, 420 m), 5.V.2012, A. Lenoir leg., 2 spec., in coll. J. Háva. Two colonies were dug, one with 5 beetles; Ait Ourir near Marrakech (31°32’40.8N, 7°38’55.3“W, 710 m), 6.V.2012, A. Lenoir coll. Three colonies were dug, with 0, 3 and 15 beetles .

Distribution: This species was already known from just one locality in Morocco: Essaouira (called Mogador in John 1965, Kocher 1969). With these two new localities, the species seems to be located in South Morocco.

Biology: The specimens of Thorictus buigasi were collected in the field, on the heads of Cataglyphis viatica workers (see Háva & Lenoir, 2008). They clutch on the host ant antennae with their mandibules ( Figs. 1 & 2 ).

Figures

Figs. 1 & 2.- Thorictus buigasi on the head of Cataglyphis viatica. (photos Fernando Amor)