Conspecific recognition in a heterospecific context: the case of the obligatory termitophile Corotoca melantho (Coleoptera: Staphylinidae) and their host termites Constrictotermes cyphergaster (Blattodea: Isoptera: Termitidae)

Could termitophile species integrate perfectly into their host colonies while preserving their identity for conspecific recognition? Here, we address this problem with focus on male-female encounter based on chemical signals in Corotoca melantho (Staphylinidae: Aleocharinae) which are termitophiles of Constrictotermes cyphergaster (Termitidae: Termitinae). Using a trail-following bioassay, we show that these beetles are capable to detect and follow the chemical cues of their termite hosts. However, beetle males tested in a two-choice olfactory experiment also perceived and followed the chemical signals released by their conspecific females. Our results support that termitophiles highly integrated to termitaria conditions such as C. melantho despite having developed sophisticated modifications to blend themselves interspecifically among their hosts, are still able to perform conspecific recognition. This work has been partially funded by CNPq, Capes, Fapemig