Myrmecophily of the enigmatic stag beetleTorynognathus chrysomelinus(Coleoptera: Lucanidae: Lucaninae) with remarks on adult morphology, immature stages, and systematic position

Abstract

AbstractAdults and various immature stages of the stag beetleTorynognathus chrysomelinusBomans, 1986 were found inside the nests ofPseudolasiusants in Peninsular Malaysia. This paper provides a detailed description ofT. chrysomelinus, which is the first ever record of myrmecophily in this genus and the third record in the family Lucanidae. This is also the first record of myrmecophilous Coleoptera withPseudolasiusants as a host. The description includes the illustration of the male genitalia, mouthparts, larva, and pupa of this genus for the first time. Furthermore, the systematic position ofT. chrysomelinuswas inferred by the molecular phylogenetic analysis of the family Lucanidae. The results suggest thatTorynognathusis a sister taxon to the genusAegus.