Austrospirachtha_carrijoi

<i>Austrospirachtha carrijoi</i>

Austrospirachtha carrijoi

Species of beetle

Austrospirachtha carrijoi is a species of rove beetle that is native to northern Australia. It has an enlarged abdomen that extends over its entire body and that appears remarkably like a termite, and uses that disguise to steal food from true termites.[1][2]

Quick Facts Austrospirachtha carrijoi, Scientific classification ...

The type species of the genus, A. mimetes, also 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.[3]

References

  1. [1]
    Pallardy, Richard (6 September 2023). "Beetle grows 'termite' on back to steal food". Science.org.
  2. [2]
    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.
  3. [3]
    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.


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