Triartiger caiyujiei sp. nov., a remarkable clavigerite beetle (Coleoptera, Staphylinidae, Pselaphinae) associated with Pseudolasius ants (Hymenoptera, Formicidae) from East China

By

Yin, Zi-Wei
Niu, Xiao-Ling

Type

Article

Date of Publication

2025-4-15

Original Publication

Deutsche entomologische Zeitschrift

Volume

72

Series / Issue

Issue: 1

Pages

9--14

Subjects

Ant-loving beetles , Asia , Clavigerini , myrmecophily , new taxon , taxonomy

Contributed by

Pensoft Publishers

Language

English

Published by

Berlin Nicolai'sche Verlags-Buchandlung 1881-

Identifiers

DOI: https://doi.org/10.3897/dez.72.144365

 

Abstract

The genus Triartiger Kubota (Pselaphinae, Clavigeritae) represents an enigmatic group of obligately myrmecophilous ant-loving beetles endemic to East Asia. Prior to this study, six species had been known across China’s mainland (Jiangxi, Fujian), Taiwan Island, and Tsushima Island of Japan), with merely two species having its symbiotic host recorded through direct collection. Herein, a remarkable new species is described: Triartiger caiyujieisp. nov. discovered in a colony of Pseudolasius Emery (Hymenoptera, Formicidae) ants at the Tianmushan National Nature Reserve in Zhejiang Province, east China. The new taxon can be distinguished from congeners by its exceptionally elongated antennae and the most intricate elytral and abdominal trichome structures observed within the genus. The key to world species of Triartiger is updated and the current knowledge of the genus is summarised to facilitate future research.