Taisuke Kanao

A Molecular Phylogenetic Analysis of the Genus Dohrniphora (Diptera: Phoridae)

ABSTRACT The genus Dohrniphora Dahl 1898 (Diptera: Phoridae) is an extremely diverse assemblage of species that exhibit fascinating larval lifestyles, including, scavenging, fungivory, kleptoparasitism, predation, and parasitism. Moreover, some species are known to exhibit interesting associations with social insects. Here we report on the first in-depth molecular phylogenetic study of the genus Dohrniphora based on 2,327 bp of DNA sequence data from portions of the nuclear CAD (rudimentary) and mitochondrial ND1, CO1, and 16S rDNA genes. Maximum parsimony and Bayesian analysis each recovered Dohrniphora as a monophyletic group. Within Dohrniphora, the New World species were paraphyletic with respect to the Old World clade. We also provide evidence that members of the termite-parasitizing genus Dicranopteron Schmitz 1931 are simply highly specialized members of Dohrniphora and revive the species status of Dohrniphora obscuriventris Borgmeier 1925. Finally, biogeography and hind femoral morphology are examined in a phylogenetic context.

A new genus of Compactopediina (Coleoptera: Staphylinidae) associated with Longipeditermes (Isoptera: Termitidae) in Peninsular Malaysia with a key to and phylogenetic analysis of all genera of the subtribe.

Kistnerella malayensis Kanao & Maruyama, gen. et sp.n. (Coleoptera: Staphylinidae: Aleocharinae) is described from Ulu Gombak, Selangor, Peninsular Malaysia. This new genus belongs to the termitophilous subtribe Compactopediina in the tribe Aleocharini, and is associated with Longipeditermes longipes (Haviland, 1889) (Isoptera: Termitidae: Nasutitermitinae). A key to the genera in Compactopediina is given. The phylogenetic relationships of the genera are investigated, and the host termite relationships and the systematic position of Compactopediina are discussed.

Systematics of rove beetles (Coleoptera: Staphylinidae: Aleocharinae) associated with Hodotermopsis sjostedti (Isoptera: Termopsidae)

Members of the termitophilous subtribe Termitozyrina (Aleocharinae: Lomechusini) associated with Hodotermopsis sjostedti are taxonomically treated. The genera Hodotermophilus Naomi & Terayama and Termophidoholus Naomi & Hirono, and each type species (monotypic) are redescribed. Termophidoholus formosanus, originally described from Taiwan, and its host termite H. sjostedti are newly recorded from Laos. Yakuus iwatai Kanao & Maruyama gen. & sp. nov. and H. gloriosus were collected sympatrically in the same nests in Yaku‐shima, Japan. All of the above species, belonging to the three genera, share the presence of a batch of spurs at the tibial apex of fore and mid legs. Habitus photographs and illustrations of diagnostic features are provided for these species, and their phylogenetic relationships are discussed based on morphological similarities and the extant distribution of the host termite species.

Two new genera and species of the termite symbiont lineage Termitohospitini (Coleoptera, Staphylinidae, Aleocharinae) from Bolivia and peninsular Malaysia

Abstract Coptotermocola clavicornis gen. & sp. n. and Neotermitosocius bolivianus gen. & sp. n. of the termite inquilinous tribe Termitohospitini are described from peninsular Malaysia and Bolivia, respectively. The Termitohospitini are most readily diagnosable by the distally migrated anterior tentorial pits that are no longer associated with the antennal fossae, and by the enlarged vertex which obscures the antennal fossae dorsally. Additionally, the Termitohospitini are hypothesized to share a recent common ancestor with the Masuriini and Myllaenini due to shared derived morphologies of the lacinia distal teeth with lateral cuticular processes, presence of a unique maxillary palpomere III sensilla, and anterolateral angles of mentum produced. Habitus photographs and illustrations of diagnostic features are provided for the two new genera in order to facilitate future work.

Eight new species, a new record, and redescription of the genus Discoxenus Wasmann, 1904: The first record of termitophilous rove beetles in Cambodia (Coleoptera: Staphylinidae: Aleocharinae)

As the first record of the Cambodian termitophilous rove beetles, eight new species of the genus Discoxenus Wasmann, 1904 (Aleocharini: Compactopediina) are described, along with a redescription of the genus. Discoxenus katayamai Kanao & Maruyama, 2010, which was originally known from Thailand, is newly recorded from Cambodia and redescribed. Discoxenus species are morphologically divided into two species groups, namely the latiabdominalis and the assmuthi. The latiabdominalis species group includes D. latiabdominalis n. sp. and D. cambodiensis n. sp., and both species are associated with Odontotermes maesodensis Ahmad, 1965. The assmuthi species group comprises 11 species: D. assmuthi Wasmann, 1904, D. lepisma Wasmann, 1904, D. indicus Kistner, 1982, D. malaysiensis Kistner, 1982, D. phourini n. sp., D. kohkongensis n. sp., D. hirsutus n. sp., D. minutus n. sp., D. lucidus n. sp., D. kakizoei n. sp., and D. katayamai. The members in the assmuthi species group are associated with Odontotermes or Hypotermes termites. One of the unique morphological features of the assmuthi species group is the strongly developed distal crest of the male aedeagal median lobe while that observed in the latiabdominalis species group is not produced, which is general character state in the tribe Aleocharini. The character state of distal crest and several other morphological features such as mouthparts are considered to support the monophyly of respective species groups in Discoxenus.

Discovery of a remarkable new species of black fungus gnat (Diptera, Sciaridae) from termite nests in Malaysia

A remarkable new species of black fungus gnat Pnyxiopalpus roslii sp. nov., was discovered from nests of the termite Nasutitermes proatripennis in Ulu Gombak, Malaysia, and is described based on the female morphology and DNA barcodes. This is the first record of a termitophilous black fungus gnat from South-east Asia. The new species is easily distinguished from its known congeners by the degeneration of all thoracic setae into tiny setulae. This species is described as a symbiont of the host termite based on field observations and the examination of specimens. The “wing stump” structure of the new species indicates that this species has wings after eclosion and later loses them, an adaptation to a cryptic life. A second still undescribed termitophilous species of Pnyxiopalpus was observed walking in a marching column of the termite Longipeditermes longipes in Ulu Gombak.