New Termitophilous Staphylinidae of Zoogeographic Significance (Coleoptera)1

Abstract

Zoogeographical and evolutionary considerations and host relationships of termitophiles in the aleocharine tribe Corotocini (subtribes Corotocina and Termitogastrina), and of the terniitophilous subfamily Trichopseniinae, are discussed. New taxa in the Corotocina are: Thyreoxenus mexicanus , from Campeche, whose host probably is a Nasutitermes, and SPIRACHTHODES , type S. madecassus , found with Nasutitermes kanderianus in Madagascar. This latter is the first Old-World genus with exudatory abdominal appendages, a remarkable adaptive feature shared only with Spirachtha Sehiodte of Brazil and British Guiana. New species of Termitogastrina are: Termitoptochus australiensis , from a nest of Tumulitermes apiocephalus in Western Australia; Idiogaster coatoni , collected with an undescribed Trinervitermes in Northern Rhodesia; and Protermitobia rhodesiae , taken with Cubitermes sp. in Northern Rhodesia. The first known Ethiopian genus of Trichopseniinae is TERMITONA , type T. congoensis , from nest of Schedorhinotermes lamanianus in the Belgian Congo; its closest relative is Schizelythron, in Java. New synonymy: Idiogasler Wasmann, 1912 (= Termitotima Wasmann, 1916).