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| [1] Rondoniella costata Kaszab, 1970; [2-4] R. hosoishii Maruyama & Ando, 2022 |
Abstract
The enigmatic tenebrionid genera Rondoniella Kaszab, 1970 and Durandius Kaszab, 1970 are briefly reviewed and diagnosed. Rondoniella hosoishii sp. nov. is described based on specimens collected from a nest of the arboreal ant Crematogaster sewardi in Cambodia. Because of where R. hosoishii sp. nov. was collected and its specialized morphology, the members of Rondoniella and its close relative Durandius are considered to be myrmecophilous, as was suggested in the original description. They also have reduced mouthparts, which are unknown in other tenebrionids, and they might receive food from ants by trophallaxis.
Cnemeplatiini, Indochina, Laos, myrmecophily, Pimeliinae, taxonomy, Thailand
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| 1, Habitus of Rondoniella costata Kaszab, 1970; 2, habitus of R. hosoishii Maruyama & Ando sp. nov. (holotype male); 3, ditto (paratype female); 4, head of R. hosoishii sp. nov., ventral view; 5, habitus of R. bremeri Ferrer & Moragues, 2000; 6, habitus of Durandius ardoini Kaszab, 1970; 7, ditto, head, ventral view. |
Rondoniella hosoishii sp. nov.
Etymology. The specific epithet is cordially dedicated to Dr. Shingo Hosoishi (Kyushu University), who collected the type series.
Diagnosis. Rondoniella hosoishii sp. nov. is most closely similar to R. costata Kaszab, 1970 in color and general body shape, but distinguished from it by the lateral depression of the pronotum being narrower, the punctation onthe pronotum being finer, the striae on the elytra less clear, the tibiae being broader and less punctate, the tarsi being shorter and thicker.
Munetoshi MARUYAMA and Kiyoshi ANDO. 2022. Review of the Genera Rondoniella Kaszab, 1970 and Durandius Kaszab, 1970 (Coleoptera: Tenebrionidae), with description of R. hosoishii sp. nov. from an ant nest in Cambodia. Zootaxa. 5209(2); 293-300. DOI: doi.org/10.11646/zootaxa.5209.2.9
