Termitomorpha goeldiana, Silva & Caron & Carvalho-Filho, 2022

Silva, Ruan Felipe Da, Caron, Edilson & Carvalho-Filho, Fernando Da Silva, 2022, An update on Termitomorpha Wasman (Coleoptera: Staphylinidae) including a new species, species redescriptions and geographic extension, Zootaxa 5205 (1), pp. 1-25 : 9-16

Termitomorpha goeldiana sp. nov.

( Figs. 7–13 , 21 )

Type material. HOLOTYPE ♂ ( MPEG): Brasil [= Brazil], Pará, Belém / Campus de Pesquisa Museu Paraense Emílio Goeldi [=Research Campus of Museu Paraense Emílio Goeldi], 28.VI.2021 / R.F. Silva [collector], hospedeiro [= host]: Nasutitermes corniger .

PARATYPE. Same data as holotype, 2 specimens (1 ♂ and 1 ♀) deposited in CESP (dissected parts fixed on transparent plastic microslide with Canada balsam); 2 specimens (1 ♂ and 1 ♀) deposited in MPEG (in alcohol 70%) .

Diagnosis. In the last published key to the species of Termitomorpha ( Caron et al. 2018) T. goeldiana sp. nov. runs to T. sinuosa Caron, Bortoluzzi & Rosa, 2018 . However, T. goeldiana sp. nov. differs from T. sinuosa in having antennal article I nearly the length of articles II to IV combined, article II twice as longer than article III, article III one-third longer than article IV, articles IV to X with about the same length. Furthermore, the new species has lateral margin of mentum somewhat sinuous, anterior region narrower than posterior region and anterior margin slightly arcuate.

Description. Body length approximately 4.0 mm; predominant light reddish-brown, except dark-brown head, pronotum and elytra.

Head subquadrate ( Fig. 8A ), vertex sparsely setose; clypeus with a low, transversely, arcuate, elevation before the antenna; eyes slightly shorter than temples, length of eyes about 1/3 of total head length. Antenna strongly geniculate; article I nearly the length of articles II to IV combined; article II twice as longer than article III; article III 1/3 longer than article IV; articles IV to X with about the same length; article XI nearly the length of IX to X combined and with a pair of coeloconic sensilla ( Fig. 8E ). Labrum almost three times wider than long; with strongly emarginate anterior margin and posterior margin sinuous; anterolateral corner with a cluster of four thick long setae ( Fig. 8G ). Mentum with straight anterior margin; somewhat sinuous laterally; longer than wide; anterior region narrower than the posterior; posterior margin slightly emarginate ( Fig. 8F ). Mandibles nearly unsymmetrical; with subapical tooth, huge membranous prostheca and internal region excavated ( Figs. 8B , 11C–D ). Maxilla with galea slightly narrower than lacinia; galea and lacinia with fringed internal margin; lacinia with pointed apex; galea with spike-like bristles; maxillary palpus 4-segmented; article II feebly convex on the external side and with many bristles on external surface; article III longer than wide, shorter than the second, ovoidal, gradually tapering distally, with external side convex and with internal side slight excavated; article IV tiny and spiniform ( Figs. 8H , 11E–F ). Labium with ligula very short, membranous, emarginate posterior margin; labial palpus 3-segmented, article I longer than articles II and III together ( Fig. 8F ).

Pronotum wider than long ( Fig. 8C ); strongly convex, with median suture; anterior margin strongly arcuate, lateral margin somewhat sinuous, posterior margin broadly arcuate and slight notched medially. Prosternum extremely short, 1/4 as long as the pronotum; anterior margin strongly arcuate; posterior margin with a pair of clubbed projections ( Fig. 8D ). Front tibia with tiny bristles on almost internal margin ( Fig. 9D ). Elytra subquadrate, posterior margin truncate ( Fig. 9C ); disk with two long bristles; each with acute tooth at the anteromedial border in internal view, tooth long and densely scaled ( Figs. 11A–B ). Hind wings not developed (brachypterous) ( Fig. 9B ). Middle trochanter with triangular projection in female ( Fig. 9E ), that is absent in male ( Fig. 9F ). Middle femur with a notch on ventral surface of anterior region in female ( Fig. 9E ), that is absent in male ( Fig. 9F ). Tarsal formula 5–5–5; tarsomere I the longest; tarsomeres IV and V almost fused ( Figs. 9D–G ).

Abdomen physogastric, almost two times wider than elytra and the maximum width on segment V; segment I broadly joined to metanotum ( Fig. 9B ); tergite II with one pair of small triangular projections on anterior margin, posterior half with many bristles ( Fig. 10A ); tergite VII trapezoidal, about two times wider than long, one pair of median bristles close to anterior margin and one pair of median bristles close to posterior margin, anterior margin with a pair of glands in median region ( Figs. 10B , 12A–C ); tergite VIII trapezoidal, about two times wider than long, with a row of four long bristles close to posterior margin ( Fig. 10C ); sternite VIII in female two times wider than long, with lateral margins laterally projected and with a small triangular projection in anterolateral corner, posterior margin sinuous with small median triangular projection and with a row of eight bristles close to posterior margin ( Fig. 10D ); sternite VIII in male similar to female, except of a pair of reduced quadrate projections in anterolateral corner and posterior margin strongly emarginate ( Fig. 10F ); tergite IX in male with each lateral piece separated by tergite X, with two long bristles on lateral margin and with elongate ventral struts ( Fig. 10G ); female tergite IX without ventral struts ( Fig. 10E ); sternite IX slender, elongate with two bristles on posterior region ( Fig. 10J ); female sternite IX represented by a pair of hemiesternites laterally attached to tergite IX ( Fig. 10E ); tergite X with four long bristles ( Figs. 10E, G ). Aedeagus. Paramere well-developed, with three bristles on apical lobe; apical lobe almost 1/3 the size of paramere; velar sac extending to apex of apical lobe; velar phragma triangular, with notched external margin ( Fig. 10H ); median lobe with irregular shaped bulbus and with apex of tubus acute; internal sac well-developed ( Fig. 10I ). Spermatheca small, with distinct capsule, chamber and duct; slight arched, with a small projection on base of capsule ( Fig. 10K ).

Geographical records. Brazil (Pará) ( Fig. 21 ).

Host termites. This species has been found in arboreal nests of Nasutitermes corniger in a cupuassu tree Theobroma grandiflorum (Willd. ex Sprenf.) K. Schum ( Figs. 20A–B ).

Etymology. The specific name “goeldiana” refers to the place where the specimens were collected, at the Research Campus of the Museu Paraense Emilio Goeldi. Which, the ending of Latin suffix “-ana” (belonging to) agree in gender with the generic name, feminine.

Remarks. This species exhibits sexual dimorphism in the morphology of the mesofemur, which has a prominent proximal notch exclusively in females. Furthermore, females have a triangular protrusion on the ventral surface of the mesotrochanter. Therefore, female specimens of this species run to T. huachii Seevers in key of Caron et al. (2018), while males run to T. costaricensis (Seevers) .

Notes on behavior. Termitomorpha goeldiana sp. nov. appears to be completely integrated into the colony of its host termite based on behavioral studies in the laboratory, since no agonistic interactions were recorded between them ( Figs. 13A–C ). The termites were seen palpating the beetles’ mouthparts, possibly performing trophallaxis, as it has been reported in other termitophilous rove beetles ( Kistner & Newton 1999). Termites were not spotted licking the gland apertures in the beetle’s tergite VII.

Figures

FIGURE 7. Termitomorpha goeldiana sp. nov., Holotype, male, habitus. A) Lateral view. B) Dorsal view. Scales bars: 2 mm.

FIGURE 8. Termitomorpha goeldiana sp. nov. A) Head, dorsal view. B) Left and right mandibles, dorsal view. C) Pronotum, dorsal view. D) Prosternum, ventral view. E) Antenna. F) Mentum and labium, ventral view. G) Labrum, ventral view. H) Maxilla, dorsal view. Scales bars: A, B, D, F, G = 0,15 mm; C, E, H = 0,3 mm.

FIGURE 9. Termitomorpha goeldiana sp. nov. A) Meso-metaventrite, ventral view. B) Meso-metanotum and tergite I, dorsal view. C) Elytron, dorsal view. D) Front leg. E) Female middle leg (arrow showing ventral surface of anterior region with notch). F) Male middle leg, male (arrow showing ventral surface of anterior region without notch). G) Hind leg. Scales bars: A–C = 0,15 mm; D–G = 0,3 mm.

FIGURE 10. Termitomorpha goeldiana sp. nov. A) Tergite II, dorsal view. B) Tergite VII, dorsal view. C) Tergite VIII, dorsal view. D) Female sternite VIII, dorsal view. E) Female tergites IX and X, dorsal view. F) Male sternite VIII, dorsal view. G) Male tergites IX and X, dorsal view. H) Aedeagus, paramere, lateral view. I) Aedeagus, median lobe, lateral view. J) Male sternite IX, lateral view. K) Spermatheca. Scales bars: A–I = 0,3 mm; J = 0,15 mm; K = 0,7 mm.

FIGURE 11. Termitomorpha goeldiana sp. nov. A) Elytron, ventral view. B) Detail of the anteromesial border of elytron, internal view. C) Mandible, dorsal view. D) Subapical tooth of mandible, dorsal view. E) Maxilla; F) Maxillary palpus. Scales bars: A = 200 µm; B, D = 20 µm; C, F = 50 µm; E = 100 µm.

FIGURE 12. Termitomorpha goeldiana sp. nov. A) Tergite VII, dorsal view. B–C) Gland opening of tergite VII, dorsal view. Scales bars: A = 200 µm; B = 50 µm; C = 20 µm.

FIGURE 13. Termitomorpha goeldiana sp. nov. A–C) Living specimen interacting with termites Nasutitermis corniger (Moschulsky).

FIGURE 20. A–B) Nest of Nasutitermes corniger (Moschulsky) where the type material of Termitomorpha goeldiana sp. nov. was found.

FIGURE 21. Map with the points of occurrence of the species of Termitomorpha.