Austrospirachtha

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Austrospirachtha
Scientific classification OOjs UI icon edit-ltr.svg
Domain: Eukaryota
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Arthropoda
Class: Insecta
Order: Coleoptera
Family: Staphylinidae
Subfamily: Aleocharinae
Tribe: Corotocini
Subtribe: Corotocina
Genus: Austrospirachtha
Watson, 1973
Species

Austrospirachtha is a genus of rove beetle in the tribe Corotocini. [1] [2] [3]

The type species of the genus, A. mimetes has an elongated abdomen that is bent over the body with appendages that give it a termite like appearance. They are thought to live within the nests of termites of the genus Nasutitermes. [4]

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References

  1. "Austrospirachtha". Catalogue of Life . Species 2000: Leiden, the Netherlands.
  2. Pallardy, Richard (6 September 2023). "Beetle grows 'termite' on back to steal food". Science.org .
  3. Zilberman, Bruno; Pires-Silva, Carlos M. (2023-08-23). "A new species and morphological notes on the remarkable termitophilous genus Austrospirachtha Watson from Australia (Coleoptera: Staphylinidae: Aleocharinae)". Zootaxa. 5336 (3): 424–432. doi:10.11646/zootaxa.5336.3.8. ISSN   1175-5334.
  4. Watson, J. A. L. (1973). "Austrospirachtha mimetes, a new termitophilous Corotocine from Northern Australia (Coleoptera: Staphylindae)". Australian Journal of Entomology. 12 (4): 307–310. doi: 10.1111/j.1440-6055.1973.tb01678.x . ISSN   1326-6756.