Vol. 95, No. 5, November & December 1984 183 A MYRMECOPHILOUS COCKROACH NEW TO THE UNITED STATES (BLATTARIA: POLYPHAGIDAE) 1 Mark Deyrup , Frank Fislr ABSTRACT: Myrmecoblatta wheeleri Hebard is reported from the nest of Camponotus abdominalis floridanus (Buckley) in Highlands County, Florida. Previous records are from Costa Rica and Guatemala. M. wheeleri is probably one of a number of examples of Florida species whose nearest relatives occur in xeric Neotropical areas. In the course of a survey of the ant fauna of the Archbold Biological Station in Highlands County, Florida, a colony of myrmecophilous cockroaches was discovered in a nest of Camponotus abdominalis floridanus (Buckley). We have determined that these specimens represent Myremecoblatta wheeleri Hebard, a species previously known from Guate-mala and Costa Rica ( Fisk et al., 1 976). The Florida specimens have been compared with Costa Rican specimens, which had been compared with the types from Guatemala. The male genitalia of a Florida specimen appear identical to those of a Costa Rican specimen. Both sexes of the Florida specimens are slightly smaller than their Costa Rican counterparts. This species ( Fig. 1 ) cannot be confused with any other U. S. cockroach. The only other myrmecophilous cockroach in the U.S. is the southwestern Attaphila fungicola Wheeler, which can be distinguished by its small size (under 3 mm), unsegmented cerci, broadly expanded tibiae, and large arolia between the tarsaJ claws (Heifer, 1953, Fisk et al., 1976). The only other species of Myrmecoblatta is M. rehni Mann, a Mexican species that can be distinguished by the non-truncate oval tegmina of the male (Fisk et al., 1976). The biology of M. wheeleri remains almost unknown. The Florida specimens were found beneath a dead slash pine log in a scrubby flatwoods habitat. At least 20 roaches of all sizes were visible when the log was turned over. Ant crickets (Myrmecophila sp.) occurred in the same ant nest. The ants made no attempt to seize or carry off the cockroaches, but carried off brood to underground chambers. The cockroaches did not follow this rush to underground chambers, but concealed themselves under bits of bark and in cracks in the dead tree. The cockroaches can run rapidly and can also 'Received January 1 1. 1984. Accepted May 5. 1984. 2 Archbold Biological Station, P.O. Box 2057. Lake Placid, Florida 33852. 'Department of Entomology, Ohio State University. 1735 Neil Avenue, Columbus, Ohio 43210. ENT. NEWS 95(5) 183-185 November & December 1984
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