Typhloponemys hypogaea (REY 1886)

Assing, V. & Feldmann, B., 2012, On the Staphylinidae of Israel (Insecta: Coleoptera), Linzer biologische Beiträge 44 (1), pp. 351-363 : 360

Typhloponemys hypogaea (REY 1886)

M a t e r i a l e x a m i n e d: 1 [det. D. Kistner based on photos], Upper Galilee, Hurfeish, 33°01'N, 35°21'E, ca. 675 m, pitfall trap, 13.X.2005 (TAU).

C o m m e n t: According to KISTNER (1958), only two specimens of this very distinctive species had been known, the male holotype from Ramleh and a male from Ben Schemen. Since then, no additional material has become available (KISTNER e-mail 29 May, 2006). The host of this extremely rare myrmecophile is Dorylus (Typhlopone) fulvus (WESTWOOD 1839). For a redescription of T. hypogaea and additional information see KISTNER (1958).

The genus Typhloponemys REY 1886 belongs to the tribe Pygostenini . According to the Palaearctic catalogue ( SMETANA 2004) this tribe is represented in the Palaearctic region by six genera and thirteen species; only one of these species is distributed in the West Palaearctic. Neither the genus Typhloponemys nor T. hypogaea are listed in the catalogue, although the species was described and subsequently re-recorded from Israel ( KISTNER 1958).