Coleoptera (LAWRENCE & NEWTON, 1995)

Fikáček, Martin, Skuhrovec, Jiří, Šípek, Petr & Fikáček, for abstracts see, 2010, Abstracts of the Immature Beetles Meeting 2009, Acta Entomologica Musei Nationalis Pragae 50 (1), pp. 321-340 : 326

Coleoptera larval fauna associated with termite nests (Isoptera) with emphasis on the “bioluminescent termite nests” from central Brazil

Cleide COSTA 1) & Sergio Antonio VANIN 1, 2)

1) Museu de Zoologia , Universidade de São Paulo, Avenida Nazaré, 481, 04263-000 São Paulo, SP, Brazil ; e-mail: [e-mail]

2) Departamento de Zoologia , Instituto de Biociências , Universidade de São Paulo, Rua do Matão, Travessa 14, 101, 05508-900 São Paulo, SP, Brazil ; e-mail: [e-mail]

A numerous and diversified insect larval fauna including many beetle species is found in the interior of termite nests. This fauna occurs in living colonies as well as in abandoned nests. The inside of the nest provides stable environment protected against climatic variations and enemies. In many cases the termite nest seems to constitute the main or the only place where these beetles can develop.

For many years we collected and studied Coleoptera larvae, associated with termite nests, mainly species of the families Elateridae , Carabidae , Melyridae , Passalidae , Scarabaeidae and Tenebrionidae . As most of the studied species were described by us in several papers and in a book, and the species reported associated with the termite nests are of different taxa, we find it worthwhile presenting a synthesis of the gathered observations, pointing out some aspects not dealt with yet.

The beetle larvae that inhabit termite nests present modifications that allow them to cohabitate with the termites. Considering the features of larvae found only in the central inner part of termite nest, some are physogastric and bear special glands and different kinds of setae all over their bodies, whereas others are not physogastric. Both kinds of larvae may be termite predators. Some species usually live in the nest cabbage pan, feeding on organic matter, mushrooms and excrements or eating the nest walls and sometimes causing the nest to be destroyed. Other species live in superficial galleries of the nest and feed on preys that live outside. However, all interactions between these inquilines and their hosts are very complex.

The phenomenon of the bioluminescent termite nest from Central Brazil is very impressive; caused by larvae of Pyrearinus termitilluminans Costa ( Coleoptera , Elateridae ), which are found in old nests of Cornitermes cumulans (Kollar in Pohl) ( Termitidae , Nasutitermitinae ), one meter or more in height. These larvae excavate an intricate network of tunnels in the outer layers of the mounds leading outside, from where they stick out their head and green-shining luminous prothorax to attract and catch flying preys, especially termites and ants.

The topics discussed are as follow: (i) some general aspects of the bioluminescence related to the elaterid fireflies; (ii) description of the bioluminescence phenomenon of the termite nests from Central Brazil including a historical review, particularities of genus Pyrearinus Costa, 1975 , mainly the pumilus group, where P. termitilluminans , the species responsible for the termite nest bioluminescence, is placed; (iii) other beetle larvae related to the termite nests and their adaptations to live in that environment; (iv) some functional categories of association of beetle larvae to termite nests.