I recently finished "An Affair with Africa" by Alzada Kistner and am now absolutely fascinated by the beetle species that hang out in ant colonies, only appearing above ground when their hosts go out on raiding forays or when the nest is relocating. Any recs for a book or article about them? Ideally with photographs. #ants #beetles #myrmecophiles #coleoptera #staphylinidae #entomology #africa
For #TingidTuesday I have Annomatocoris zeteki Drake & Froeschner. This species is a member of the obscure and rarely encountered subfamily Vianaidinae. Their biology is poorly understood but they have been documented as #myrmecophiles. Specimen from USNMNH Entomology.
#Bugs

OK #ant boffins and #myrmecophiles. One of my #Canberra #Malaise trap records matches (100%) 9 other ants from further west in Canberra and a (private) record from #FrenchPolynesia (PF) identified as #Carebara tahitiensis: https://www.boldsystems.org/index.php/Public_SearchTerms?query=BOLD:AAY6881

Which is more likely?

Carebara tahitiensis in Canberra

Carebara tahitiensis == an AU Carebara species

PF record is misidentified widespread species

No COI difference between two species

Contamination

PF location wrong

#Formicidae #Entomology