“The road to reproduction”: foraging trails of Constrictotermes cyphergaster (Termitidae: Nasutitermitinae) as maternities for Staphylinidae beetles

Authors

  • Mário Herculano de Oliveira Laboratório de Ecologia de Térmitas, Programa de Pós-Graduação Em Ecologia e Conservação, Universidade Estadual da Paraíba, Rua das Baraúnas, nº. 351, Campus I, Bairro Universitário, Campina Grande, PB, Brazil. http://orcid.org/0000-0002-7015-4350
  • Rhian Vilar da Silva Vieira Laboratório de Herpetologia (Integrado ao Laboratório de Etnoecologia), Departamento de Biologia, Universidade Estadual da Paraíba (UEPB), Campina Grande-PB, Brazil http://orcid.org/0000-0002-6591-0799
  • Igor Eloi Moreira Laboratório de Ecologia de Térmitas, Departamento de Biologia, Universidade Estadual da Paraíba (UEPB), Campina Grande – PB, Brazil http://orcid.org/0000-0001-8013-8963
  • Carlos Moreno Pires-Silva Laboratório de Ecologia de Térmitas, Departamento de Biologia, Universidade Estadual da Paraíba (UEPB), Campina Grande – PB, Brazil http://orcid.org/0000-0002-6195-8648
  • Hidalgo Valentim Gomes de Lima Laboratório de Ecologia de Térmitas, Departamento de Biologia, Universidade Estadual da Paraíba (UEPB), Campina Grande – PB, Brazil http://orcid.org/0000-0001-6891-6216
  • Marllon Rinaldo de Lima Andrade Laboratório de Ecologia de Térmitas, Departamento de Biologia, Universidade Estadual da Paraíba (UEPB), Campina Grande – PB, Brazil http://orcid.org/0000-0002-6820-6326
  • Maria Avany Bezerra-Gusmão Laboratório de Ecologia de Térmitas, Departamento de Biologia, Universidade Estadual da Paraíba (UEPB), Campina Grande – PB, Brazil http://orcid.org/0000-0002-1227-3167

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.13102/sociobiology.v65i3.2902

Keywords:

Termitophily, Corotoca, Larvae, Dispersal.

Abstract

Corotoca (Coleoptera: Staphylinidae) beetles are known for their close integration in the nests of the termite Constrictotermes cyphergaster (Termitidae: Nasutitermitinae). Although this relationship is regarded as ancient, many details are still obscure, such as their reproduction and the processes that lead to the dispersal of new beetles. We observed the use of termite foraging trails by Staphylinidae females to deposit and disperse their larvae. We recorded the deposition of larvae of C. melantho, C. fontesi, and C. sp. n. on the dorsal surfaces of termite host workers. The workers continue to follow the foraging trail until the newborn larvae freed themselves and fell into the leaf litter, subsequently burrowing into the ground. Information regarding the life stages of those Staphylinidae larvae outside the termite nest is important to understanding their full lifecycle as those taxa have strong relationships with the nest environment but also require dispersal strategies.

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Published

2018-10-02

How to Cite

Oliveira, M. H. de, Vieira, R. V. da S., Moreira, I. E., Pires-Silva, C. M., Lima, H. V. G. de, Andrade, M. R. de L., & Bezerra-Gusmão, M. A. (2018). “The road to reproduction”: foraging trails of Constrictotermes cyphergaster (Termitidae: Nasutitermitinae) as maternities for Staphylinidae beetles. Sociobiology, 65(3), 531–533. https://doi.org/10.13102/sociobiology.v65i3.2902

Issue

Vol. 65 No. 3 (2018)

Section

Short Note

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