Discovery of termitophilous rove beetles associated with Formosan subterranean termite Coptotermes formosanus in Taiwan, with the first larval description for the tribe Termitohospitini (Coleoptera: Staphylinidae)

Abstract

The Formosan subterranean termite, Coptotermes formosanus Shiraki, 1909 (Blattodea: Rhinotermitidae), is a well-known pest of wood structures. Its native range has been widely investigated for potential implications for pest control strategies. Termitophilous staphylinid species of the genera Japanophilus Maruyama & Iwata, 2002 and Sinophilus Kistner, 1985 found in nests of C. formosanus have been used to infer the native range of their host termite. Herein, we extend the range of these two genera to include Taiwan, the type locality of C. formosanus. Taiwanese specimens were identified as J. hojoi Maruyama & Iwata, 2002 and S. yukoae Maruyama & Iwata, 2002 based on morphological and molecular data. The first-instar larva of J. hojoi is described, the first known immature stage of the tribe Termitohospitini (Coleoptera: Staphylinidae: Aleocharinae).