NEW SPECIES OF TERMITOPHILOUS TRICHOPSENIINAE (COLEOPTERA, STAPHYLINIDAE) FOUND WITH MASTOTERMES DARWINIENSIS IN AUSTRALIA AND IN DOMINICANAMBER

Prorhinopsenius lenziis described from Queensland, Australia where it was found with Mastotermes darwiniensis. Prorhinopsenius alzadae, P. p oinari, & P. seeversi are described from Dominican Amber. Additional d escriptive notes are provided for P. mexicanus from Chiapas, Mexico Am ber, The genus Palaeopsenius is made a synonym of Prorhinopsenius. Bec ause of the close similarity among P. lenzi. P. aIzadae, and P. mexica nus, it is speculated that the hosts of the latter 2 species are Masto termes electrodominicus and M. electromexicus respectively. A revised scenario for the evolution of the Trichopseniinae is presented in view of the fossil species and the capture of related species with living Mastotermes and Neotermes. This involves the early evolution of the Tr ichopseniinae at the very beginning of termite evolution and the gradu al evolutionary change of the other genera as the various families of termites speciated. The largest elaboration of trichopsenine genera st ill is in the Rhinotermitidae. Additional characters are presented whi ch I believe justify the retention of the Trichopseniinae as a separat e subfamily of the Staphylinidae.