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| Platybolium watanai Maruyama, Sasitorn & Ando, 2023 |
Abstract
Platybolium watanai sp. nov., the second species of the genus, is described from Thailand, with illustrations of the diagnostic characters, including the defensive glands and the cuticular structures of females. The type species of the genus, Platybolium alvearium Blair, 1938, is known from beehives in a wide range of the Oriental region, but the new species was found in an ant nest of Pheidole singaporensis Özdikmen, 2010. Myrmecophily in the new species is discussed.
Key words: Defensive glands, female cuticular structures, myrmecophily, new species, Triboliini
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| Platybolium watanai sp. nov.: 1. holotype, dorsal view; 2. ditto, dorso-lateral view; 3. paratype at the host ant nest entrance. Scales: 1.0 mm. |
Platybolium watanai sp. nov.
Etymology. Patronym. Named in recognition of Dr. Watana Sakchoowong, who always supports MM in his
collecting trips and obtaining research permits in Thailand.
Differential diagnosis. The new species is similar to Platybolium alvearium Blair, 1938 (type of the genus), but
is readily separable from the latter by having the wider and flatter lateral margins of the pronotum and elytra, and
by the more shining body surface. They are also distinguished in the following key. ...
Munetoshi Maruyama, Hasin Sasitorn and Kiyoshi Ando. 2023. A Description of the Second Species of the Genus Platybolium Blair, 1938 (Coleoptera: Tenebrionidae) collected from A Nest of Pheidole singaporensis Özdikmen, 2010 (Hymenoptera: Formicidae) in Thailand. Zootaxa. 5256(3); 289-294. DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.5256.3.5
