Termitomorpha, Wasmann, 1894

Caron, Edilson, Bortoluzzi, Sidnei & Rosa, Cassiano S., 2018, Two new species of obligatory termitophilous rove beetles from Brazil (Coleoptera: Staphylinidae: Termitomorpha Wasmann), Zootaxa 4413 (3), pp. 566-578 : 571-577

publication ID	https://doi.org/ 10.11646/zootaxa.4413.3.10
publication LSID	lsid:zoobank.org:pub:34397748-2871-469D-AB25-04C49E445FFC
DOI	https://doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.5974502
persistent identifier	https://treatment.plazi.org/id/03D24962-1D55-6214-FF7F-EF58FD84C97D
treatment provided by	Plazi
scientific name	Termitomorpha
status

Treatment

Termitomorpha View in CoL alata Caron & Bortoluzzi, sp. nov.

( Figs. 34–63 View FIGURES 34–36 View FIGURES 37–45 View FIGURES 46–54 View FIGURES 55–63 , 67–69 View FIGURES64–69.64 )

Type material. HoLotype: maLe (photo, Figs. 34–36 View FIGURES 34–36 ), deposited in DZUP, in microviaL with gLycerin, abdomen dissected and its parts fiXed on transparent pLastic microsLide with Canada baLsam, LabeLs: " BRASIL, PR,/PaLotina UFPR,/in Nasutitermes /sp., nest in Ficus /sp. 30–XI– 2016,/E. Caron & S./BortoLuzzi (Leg.)", "Hospedeiro: Nasutitermes / corniger (MotschuLsky) /identified by ELiana CanceLLo", " HOLOTYPE / Termitomorpha alata /Caron & BortoLuzzi". Two paratypes, pinned, femaLes, one entire dissected in DZUP and another in microviaL with gLycerin in FMNH, both with the same LabeLs of hoLotype.

Diagnosis. Termitomorpha alata sp. nov. differs from other species of the genus by the wings weLL-deveLoped. AdditionaLLy, T. alata may be distinguished from T. sinuosa by pronotum with straight LateraL margins and from T. manni by base of pronotum evidentLy notched at middLe.

Description. Male. MaXimum body Length: 4.5 mm; maXimum eLytraL width: 0.7 mm. Head, pronotum and eLytra dark-brown ( Figs. 34–35 View FIGURES 34–36 ), abdomen somewhat reddish-brown with segments 3 to 4 Lighter than the rest and absence of visibLe membranous areas between abdominaL segments; appendices uniformLy reddish-brown. DorsaL surface of head, pronotum and eLytra gLossy with sparse setigerous pores. Head subQuadrate ( Fig. 37 View FIGURES 37–45 ). Eyes subeQuaL to tempLes. Antenna strongLy genicuLate ( Fig. 40 View FIGURES 37–45 ); articLe 1 nearLy the Length of 2–5 combined, not compressed at the base; articLe 2 sLightLy Longer than 3; 3 one- fourths Longer than 4; 4 subeQuaL in Length to 5; articLes 6–10 decreasing in Length; articLe 11 nearLy the Length of 9–10 combined and pair of coeLoconic sensiLLa. Front-cLypeus strongLy eLevate for a short distance anterior to antennaL fossae, and then steepLy decLivous ( Fig. 38 View FIGURES 37–45 ); anterior margin somewhat truncate to sLightLy emarginate ( Fig. 37 View FIGURES 37–45 ). Labrum with anterior margin feebLy emarginate ( Fig. 41 View FIGURES 37–45 ). MandibLes symmetricaL ( Fig. 43 View FIGURES 37–45 ); each broad, with sharp subapicaL tooth and huge membranous prostheca ( Figs. 43 View FIGURES 37–45 , 50 View FIGURES 46–54 ). MaXiLLa with gaLea narrower than Lacinia ( Figs. 44 View FIGURES 37–45 , 46–47 View FIGURES 46–54 ); gaLea and Lacinia curved on the same direction; apeX of Lacinia with a prominent spine-Like ( Figs 44 View FIGURES 37–45 , 47 View FIGURES 46–54 ); maXiLLary paLpus 4 segmented, articLe 2 the Longest, 3 subgLobose, the widest and concave on internaL face ( Fig. 48 View FIGURES 46–54 ), articLe 4 subuLate. Labium with a smaLL median scLerotized part of the LiguLa ( Figs. 42 View FIGURES 37–45 , 49 View FIGURES 46–54 ); LabiaL paLpus 3 segmented, articLe 1 the Longest and widest, articLe 2 the wider and shorter than 3. Mentum with anterior margin sLightLy arcuate ( Fig. 39 View FIGURES 37–45 ). GuLar pLate narrow, narrowest on the apicaL third-fourths ( Fig. 39 View FIGURES 37–45 ). Pronotum subQuadrate ( Fig. 45 View FIGURES 37–45 ); strongLy conveX, with somewhat depression on LongitudinaL mid-Line; anterior margin broadLy arcuate; LateraL margins straight; posterior margin with deepLy notched at the middLe, sinuous on each haLf-LateraL. ELytra sLightLy narrowing to the apeX; each with acute tooth at the anteromediaL border in internaL view, tooth Long and somewhat scaLed ( Fig. 51 View FIGURES 46–54 ). Hind wings weLLdeveLoped. TarsaL formuLa 5–5–5; tarsomere 1 the Longest; tarsomeres 4 and 5 aLmost fused; protibia with microsetae on aLmost internaL margin. Abdomen somewhat physogastric, aLmost two times wider than eLytra and the maXimum width on segment 4; anterior margin of tergite 7 with conspicuous pair of gLanduLar area ( Figs. 52– 55 View FIGURES 46–54 View FIGURES 55–63 ); posterior margin of sternite 7 broadLy emarginate ( Fig. 56 View FIGURES 55–63 ); posterior margin of sternite 8 strongLy emarginate ( Fig. 57 View FIGURES 55–63 ); tergite 9, each LateraL piece separated by tergite 10 and with narrow and eLongate ventraL struts ( Fig. 58 View FIGURES 55–63 ); sternite 9 sLender, eLongate and curved dorsaLLy to apeX ( Fig. 58 View FIGURES 55–63 , arrow); posterior margin of tergite 10 rounded. Aedeagus very weakLy scLerotized ( Fig. 59 View FIGURES 55–63 ); median Lobe with apicaL one-fourths somewhat sharp and apeX curved ventraLLy ( Fig. 59b View FIGURES 55–63 thin arrow); parameres weLL-deveLoped and foLLow the aLeocharine pattern, incLuding pair of conspicuous setae on apeX ( Fig. 59b View FIGURES 55–63 , boLdarrow).

Female. SimiLar to maLe, eXcept of posterior margin of sternite 7 Less broadLy emarginate ( Fig. 60 View FIGURES 55–63 ); sternite 8 with posterior margin sLightLy pointed at the middLe ( Fig. 61 View FIGURES 55–63 ); tergite 9 without ventraL struts ( Fig. 62 View FIGURES 55–63 ); sternite 9 consisting of pair of hemisternites, each two times as Long as the maXimum wide, base the widest ( Fig. 62 View FIGURES 55–63 , arrow); spermatheca smaLL with capsuLe of subsphericaL shape ( Fig. 63 View FIGURES 55–63 ).

Geographical records. The species is known onLy from the type LocaLity, a smaLL urban area (aLmost 5.0 ha) of AtLantic forest attached the FederaL University of Paraná, at the municipaLity of PaLotina, Paraná, BraziL ( Fig. 67 View FIGURES64–69.64 ).

Host termites. This species is found in arboreaL nests of Nasutitermes corniger (MotschuLsky) , hosted in Ficus sp. ( Figs. 68, 69 View FIGURES64–69.64 ). The termite was identified by Dr. ELiana M. CanceLLo and deposited under "MZUSP 26895" at the ZooLogicaL Museum of the University of São PauLo (MZUSP).

Biological notes. The arboreaL nest was fiXed on Ficus sp., but the tree was dropped and the nest was in contact with the soiL ( Figs. 68, 69 View FIGURES64–69.64 ). The study of the nest was carried out in Lab and aLL specimens of T. alata sp. nov. were found inside of the nest.

Etymology. The specific name "aLata" is a Latin adjective that means "winged," an aLLusion to weLL- deveLoped wings this species and uniQue for the genus. The adjective is of feminine gender agreeing with the gender of the genus.

Remarks. ALL species of Termitomorpha currentLy described have vestigiaL wings ( Seevers 1957, Kistner & Jacobson 1976, Kistner 2006). However, Kistner & Jacobson (1976, page 11) mentioned one not named specimen that had wing with "normaL staphyLinid venation", so we understand that it had weLL-deveLoped wings. Here, we have the second record of weLL-deveLoped wings species in Termitomorpha . ALL eXamined specimens of T. alata sp. nov. have weLL-deveLoped wings.