Blind, flightless termitophiles of the genus Termitotrox in East Africa: Three new species with a generic review (Coleoptera: Scarabaeidae: Termitotroginae)

Abstract

The Indo-Afrotropical scarab subfamily Termitotroginae is briefly reviewed, and the two genera currently recognized are resynonymized: Termitotrox Reichensperger, 1915 (= Aphodiocopris Arrow, 1920). Their type-species are not significantly different (contra Paulian 1985). The genus Termitotrox and its type-species, T. consobrinus Reichensperger, 1915, are rediagnosed. Ten species of Termitotrox are keyed and listed, including three new species from East Africa described in this paper: T. usambaricus (North Tanzania), vanbruggeni (South Kenya), and turkanicus (North Kenya). The four species now known from East Africa are compared in a table of diagnostic characters. All termitotrogines are blind and flightless. The new species were, like several of their congeners, found in fungus gardens of termite colonies (Macrotermitinae).