Termitozophilus mirandus ( Mann, 1923 )

Zilberman, Bruno, 2019, Synopsis of the genus Termitozophilus Silvestri (Coleoptera, Staphylinidae, Aleocharinae, Corotocini), Zootaxa 4614 (1), pp. 95-116 : 102-104

Termitozophilus mirandus ( Mann, 1923)

Corymbogaster miranda Mann, 1923: 347 (original description)

Termozophilus mirandus ; Seevers, 1957

Female—Length ~2.5 mm (abdomen extended, from anterior region of pronotum to apex of abdomen)

Body moderately physogastric, partially sclerotized; sclerotized areas mostly light brown; considerable membranous area exposed in dorsal view; small posterior band of pronotum black and lateral margins of sclerites darker. All sclerotized parts moderated covered with moderated long bristles (figs. 24 A, 25A–B, 26A–B, 27–28).

Head. Subquadrate, about as wide as long, slightly widest behind eyes, slightly narrowing posteriorly; length of eyes occupying about half head total length; gula subtriangular, widest at base, fused to mentum; dorsal surface with a pair of setae behind each eye (figs. 27–28, 56). Antennae: scape slighter longer than other antenommeres including the last; antennomeres II–IV elongate, V–X moniliform; antennomere XI about twice longer than wide and more than twice longer than X (fig. 59). Maxillae with maxillary palpi densely setose and with four palpomeres: palpomere I short and II-IV elongate; palpomeres II and III covered with long bristles (figs. 27–28).

Mandibles. Symmetrical (figs. 27–28). Labium. Prementum with labial palpi setose, 3-articulated; palpomeres I and II subquadrate; last elongate and narrow; ligula widest at base and round at apex; mentum and submentum distinct, both trapezoidal in form.

Thorax. Prothorax. Elytra trapezoid, covering meso- and metatonoto; surface covered with long bristles (25 A).

Abdomen tergites short, with secondary esclerotization, not reaching inner paratergites; outer paratergites close to margin of sternites by the former secondary sclerotization; inner and outer paratergites not fusioned (24 A).

Material examined. Holotype (fig. 24 B). British Guiana. Kartabo. 09/IX/1920, A. [Alfred] Emerson (type No. 64134, U.S. N.M.) host: Cornitermes pugnax .

Remarks. Mann (1923), described this species based on six specimens collected in Kartabo, British Guiana, associated with Cornitermes pugnax . Up to now, this species is known only from the type locality. No specimens were available for dissection, and therefore the above redescription was based on external morphology information obtained from photographs of holotype and the original description.

Termitozophilus mirandus may be easily distinguished from other species of the genus by the shape of head, which is subquadrate; and the shape of antennomeres V–X, which are moniliform. This species also distinct by its forest habitat, and association with Cornitermes pugnax .