Austrospirachtha
Display parents3
TaxonAustrospirachtha
AuthorityWatson, 1973
Subdivision ranksSpecies
Subdivision

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]

References

  1. ^ "Austrospirachtha". 9L9GB.
  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. PMID 38221085
  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