ISSN 2816-6531

First record of the genus Derolathrus Sharp and of the family Jacobsoniidae in Vanuatu (Coleoptera)

Thomas  
Théry  
authors orcid
Tags: Arthropoda, Coleoptera, Derolathrus troglophilus, Insecta, Jacobsoniidae, Staphylinoidea, Vanuatu
Number 35, 
30 October 2024

Introduction

Jacobsoniidae is a small staphylinoid beetle family encompassing 26 extant tropical and subtropical species. These species are distributed in three genera: Derolathrus Sharp in Sharp & Scott, 1908, Saphophagus Sharp, 1886 and Sarothrias Grouvelle, 1918 with ten, one and 15 species respectively (Théry 2023a, b; Háva 2024). Described species of Derolathrus are recorded from several islands worldwide: Barbados, Canary Islands, Fiji, Guadeloupe, Japan, Madeira, Mauritius, Montserrat, New Caledonia, Reunion, Rodrigues, Sri Lanka, USA (Hawaii, Virgin Islands). The genus is also known from USA mainland: Alabama and Florida (Dajoz 1973; Peck 2010; Cai et al. 2015; Yoshitomi & Hisasue 2020; Théry 2023a, b; Háva 2024). Specimens of Derolathrus can be found in different decaying organic material notably in bat guano where they can be abundant (Sen Gupta 1979; Lawrence & Leschen 2010). During a scientific expedition in Vanuatu, Santo 2006 (Bouchet et al. 2011), numerous specimens of Derolathrus were collected from the Autabelchiki cave (Sanma: Aoré) and more particularly from the guano found there. The specimens were identified as Derolathrus troglophilus (Sen Gupta, 1979) (Figure 1). This collection corresponds to the first record of the genus but also of this family for this territory. Derolathrus troglophilus was already known from Fiji where it was described and from New Caledonia (Théry 2023a). This collection thus increases the known distribution area of this species.

Results and Discussion

Some Derolathrus species possess a large geographic distribution, possibly helped by their small size (< 1 mm) and their fringed hindwings, facilitating their dispersal (Peck 2010; Cai et al. 2015). Thus, D. atomus Sharp in Sharp & Scott, 1908 is recorded from Hawaii and from the West Indies (Peck 2010); D. cavernicolus Peck, 2010 occurs in mainland USA (Alabama, Florida), Lesser Antilles (Barbados) (Peck 2010) and in Japan (Yoshitomi & Hisasue 2020). In consequence, the presence of D. troglophilus in Vanuatu is not surprising given the geographical proximity with Fiji and New Caledonia, islands from where the species is already mentioned. The presence of this species would be to be sought in other territories of this region like the Solomon Islands, Wallis and Futuna, Tonga, Samoa or Australia.

Acknowledgments

The author gratefully acknowledges Louis Deharveng and Anne Bedos (Muséum national d’histoire naturelle, Paris, France) for entrusting him with this material for study, and Giulio Cuccodoro (Muséum d’Histoire naturelle de Genève, Geneva, Switzerland) for the study of the holotype of Derolathrus troglophilus.

Material

References

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Figure

Derolathrus

Figure 1. Dorsal habitus of Derolathrus troglophilus from Vanuatu (specimen CTT2700) (scale 200 μm).