For #TingidTuesday I have Annomatocoris zeteki Drake & Froeschner. This species is a member of the obscure and rarely encountered subfamily Vianaidinae. Their biology is poorly understood but they have been documented as #myrmecophiles. Specimen from USNMNH Entomology.
#Bugs

OK #ant boffins and #myrmecophiles. One of my #Canberra #Malaise trap records matches (100%) 9 other ants from further west in Canberra and a (private) record from #FrenchPolynesia (PF) identified as #Carebara tahitiensis: https://www.boldsystems.org/index.php/Public_SearchTerms?query=BOLD:AAY6881

Which is more likely?

Carebara tahitiensis in Canberra

Carebara tahitiensis == an AU Carebara species

PF record is misidentified widespread species

No COI difference between two species

Contamination

PF location wrong

#Formicidae #Entomology

RT @tjparmentier@twitter.com

Found adult #Myrmecophilus with Messor ants. These flightless #myrmecophiles are probably the weirdest crickets in the world. The specimen I collected often climbed on the workers and probably tried to lick #ant secretions.

🐦🔗: https://twitter.com/tjparmentier/status/1592552531867348992

RT @tjparmentier
Found adult #Myrmecophilus with Messor ants. These flightless #myrmecophiles are probably the weirdest crickets in the world. The specimen I collected often climbed on the workers and probably tried to lick #ant secretions.