Blind, flightless termitophiles of the genus Termitotrox in East Africa: three new species with a generic review (Coleoptera: Scarabaeidae: Termitotroginae)

Krikken, J.

doi:10.1163/22119434-900000251

Cited by 6 publications

(14 citation statements)

References 9 publications

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“…Krikken (1982) stated that the onthophagine genera Dorbignyolus , Krikkenius and Pinacopodius are all termitophilous. It is also thought that several others, including Pinacotarsus , Heteroclitopus , Stiptocnemis and Sukelus , are also known or likely termitophilous (Branco 1991, 1992a,b).…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Phylogeny of the Oniticellini and Onthophagini dung beetles (Scarabaeidae, Scarabaeinae) from morphological evidence

Philips¹

2016

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A phylogenetic study was conducted to hypothesize relationships of most of the genera of the Oniticellini and Onthophagini for the first time using morphological characters from a diverse array of external and internal sclerites. The monophyly and sister relationship of both tribes was found using Bayesian and parsimony analyses with heavily to moderately weighted data. An alternative hypothesis based on parsimony analyses of unweighted or slightly weighted data show a paraphyletic Oniticellini without the Onthophagini, although recognition of the subtribe Helictopleurina as a tribe would eliminate non-monophyly.Of the three Oniticellini subtribes, the Helictopleurina and Drepanocerina are monophyletic. There is no support for the monophyly of the Oniticellina or the Onthophagini subtribe Alloscelina, as currently defined. The genus Liatongus is paraphyletic, while strong support was found for monophyly of the Madagascan genus, Helictopleurus. The genus Onthophagus is never monophyletic in any analysis performed. Two new subtribes are also proposed: Liatongina subtr. n. including the genus Liatongus and Attavicina subtr. n. including the genera Attavicinus and Paroniticellus.Topological evidence shows that the ancestral oniticellines and onthophagines were all coprophagous with alternative food sources evolving relatively recently. Both myrmecophily and termitophily probably evolved only once in the onthophagines. The phylogenetic analysis supports an African origin for the two tribes, with a relatively early age for the split of the Madagascar helictopleurines from the remaining oniticellines via dispersal. Furthermore, the presence of the oniticellines in the New World is hypothesized to be due to two relatively old dispersal events via Beringia and two relatively recent trans-Atlantic invasions of the Caribbean.

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Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Phylogeny of the Oniticellini and Onthophagini dung beetles (Scarabaeidae, Scarabaeinae) from morphological evidence

Philips¹

2016

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“…All other known termitotrogines are associated with either Protermes , Odontotermes or Hypotermes (Krikken 2008; Maruyama 2012a). A phylogenetic analysis of fungus-growing termites revealed that these three genera form a monophyletic group, with Odontotermes being paraphyletic with respect to Hypotermes ; however, Macrotermes did not group with this clade, and is instead only distantly related (Aanen and Eggleton 2005).…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Images of living beetle were taken using a Canon EOS 7D with a EF 100mm F2.8L Macro lens and Kenko extension tubes. Terminology of the species description follows Krikken (2008). All measurements in the paper are given in millimeters as follows: minimum length – maximum length (mean ± SD).…”

Section: Methodsmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…See Krikken (2008) for generic review. No detailed mouthparts description has previously been provided for Termitotrox .…”

Section: Taxonomymentioning

confidence: 99%

“…The genus was previously known from the Ethiopian region (eight species) and the Indian subregion (two species) of the Indomalayan region (Krikken 2008), until the discovery of Termitotrox cupido Maruyama, 2012 from Cambodia, representing the first species of Termitotrox from the Indo-Chinese subregion of the Indomalayan region (Maruyama 2012a). Recently, we collected another undescribed species of Termitotrox in Cambodia from fungus garden cells of Macrotermes Holmgren, 1910 (also Macrotermitinae) – a previously unknown host of Termitotrox .…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Termitotrox venus sp. n. (Coleoptera, Scarabaeidae), a new blind, flightless termitophilous scarab from Cambodia

Kakizoe¹,

Maruyama

2015

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Termitotrox venus sp. n. is described from Cambodia and represents the second discovery of Termitotrox Reichensperger, 1915 from the Indo-Chinese subregion of the Indomalayan region. Most of the type series was collected from refuse dumps in fungus garden cells of Macrotermes cf. gilvus (Hagen, 1858). Macrotermes Holmgren, 1910 was previously an unknown host of Termitotrox species. The new species is easily distinguished from all known congeners by having wing-shaped trichomes on the elytra and the larger body size, at 2.5 mm in length. We also describe the mouthparts to complement the description of the genus Termitotrox.

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Multipartite symbioses in fungus‐growing termites (Blattodea: Termitidae, Macrotermitinae) for the degradation of lignocellulose

et al. 2020

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Fungus‐growing termites are among the most successful herbivorous animals and improve crop productivity and soil fertility. A range of symbiotic organisms can be found inside their nests. However, interactions of termites with these symbionts are poorly understood. This review provides detailed information on the role of multipartite symbioses (between termitophiles, termites, fungi, and bacteria) in fungus‐growing termites for lignocellulose degradation. The specific functions of each component in the symbiotic system are also discussed. Based on previous studies, we argue that the enzymatic contribution from the host, fungus, and bacteria greatly facilitates the decomposition of complex polysaccharide plant materials. The host–termitophile interaction protects the termite nest from natural enemies and maintains the stability of the microenvironment inside the colony.

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Blind, flightless termitophiles of the genus Termitotrox in East Africa: three new species with a generic review (Coleoptera: Scarabaeidae: Termitotroginae)

Cited by 6 publications

References 9 publications

Phylogeny of the Oniticellini and Onthophagini dung beetles (Scarabaeidae, Scarabaeinae) from morphological evidence

Phylogeny of the Oniticellini and Onthophagini dung beetles (Scarabaeidae, Scarabaeinae) from morphological evidence

Termitotrox venus sp. n. (Coleoptera, Scarabaeidae), a new blind, flightless termitophilous scarab from Cambodia

Multipartite symbioses in fungus‐growing termites (Blattodea: Termitidae, Macrotermitinae) for the degradation of lignocellulose

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