Nyctibora acaciana (Blattellidae: Nyctiborinae), a new species of cockroach from Central America that oviposits on ant-acacias

Nyctibora acaciana Roth, n. sp. (Blattellidae: Nyctiborinae) is described from Costa Rican dry forest. The females glue their oothecae to the stems and branches of ant-acacias (Fabaceae: Acacia collinsii, etc.) inhabited by aggressive Pseudomyrmex spp. (Hymenoptera: Formicidae) colonies. This environment is apparently hostile enough to prevent most parasitic wasps from ovipositing into the ootheca. Only one species of Oozetetes (Hymenoptera: Eupelmidae) was reared from a large sample of oothecae. We discuss the ecological status of ant-acacias selected by the cockroach for ootheca deposition, the behavior of the female cockroach while exploring a potential acacia oviposition site, as well as the possible mechanisms used by the eupelmid wasp to successfully circumvent this defense. Brief mention is made of other acacia/cockroach and ant/cockroach associations.