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The systematic position of Kaudernitermes gen.n. (Isoptera: Termitidae, Nasutitermitinae) and its relevance to host relationships of termitophilous staphylinid beetles
Author(s) -
SANDS W. A.,
LAMB R. W.
Publication year - 1975
Publication title -
journal of entomology series b, taxonomy
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.552
H-Index - 66
eISSN - 1365-3113
pISSN - 0047-2417
DOI - 10.1111/j.1365-3113.1975.tb00013.x
Subject(s) - termitidae , biology , host (biology) , genus , fauna , subfamily , zoology , instar , ecology , evolutionary biology , larva , genetics , gene
The well‐known theory that termitophilous staphylinid beetles mimic their termite hosts has led to a reassessment of relationships between two termites, Fulleritermes contractus and Nasutitermes kaudernianus. The latter species was found to belong to a new monotypic genus, Kaudernitermes , of the constricted‐headed group of Nasutitermitinae. This Malagasy genus is most closely related to Leptomyxotermes and Fulleritermes of the Ethiopian fauna and Bulbitermes of the Indomalayan. It is diagnosed and a lectotype designated for Kaudernitermes kaudernianus comb.n. New measurements of its associated termitophile Spirachthodes madecassus and of the young stages of many Nasutitermitinae have led to more exact comparisons between supposed beetle mimics and their putative models among different instars of host species. These, with new observations of structural details, give rise to a theory that modes of mimicry and colony integration in the beetles may have followed diverging pathways.