Thoracophorus guadalupensis Cameron, 1913

Ferro, Michael L., 2015, Review Of The Genus Thoracophorus (Coleoptera: Staphylinidae: Osoriinae) In North America North Of Mexico, With A Key To Species, The Coleopterists Bulletin 69 (1), pp. 1-10 : 7

Thoracophorus guadalupensis Cameron, 1913 ( Figs. 3 , 7 )

Range. UNITED STATES: Florida. MEXICO. WEST INDIES. BELIZE. COSTA RICA. PANAMA. PERU. BRAZIL. (Herman 2001; Navarrete-Heredia et al. 2002).

Collection Methods. Berlese funnel. “Flying at dusk, under bark of rotting logs, under chips on stumps of the breadfruit tree” (Blackwelder 1943).

Habitat. Mixed forest litter, litter in gumbo limbo buttress, dry litter and log, litter at log w/ants, litter between logs w/mouse nest.

Comments. In total, 18 specimens of T. guadalupensis were examined from three counties within Florida ( Fig. 3 ). Specimens collected in northern Florida, Alachua Co., suggest that the species may occur in southern Georgia. Specimens were collected during January, March, and May, but adults may be available year-round. Discovery of this species in Florida is not surprising because it is known from Cuba and other West Indian islands. Other species of Thoracophorus may be native to southern Florida or as transients after extreme weather events such as hurricanes. Human-assisted dispersal may also occur.

References. Blackwelder 1943 (key separating T. brevicristatus from T. guadalupensis ); Irmler 1985 (key to species, illustrations of head, pronotum, and aedeagus, in German), 2010 (ecology); Herman 2001; Navarrete-Heredia et al. 2002.

Figures

Fig. 3. Distribution of Thoracophorus guadalupensis in Florida by county.

Figs. 4–7. Thoracophorus species, habitus. 4) T. costalis, teneral, contracted specimen; 5) T. costalis, mature, extended specimen; 6) T. brevicristatus; 7) T. guadalupensis.