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Clavigeritae beetles interacting with host ants in
Peru. A Crematogaster worker ant carries a Fustiger beetle (right) while
another beetle (left, with mite on abdomen) orients its body to allow a
second worker ant to lick its trichomes.
Credit: © Takashi Komatsu
© Delbert La Rue 2015. All Rights Reserved.
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Thursday, May 14, 2015
Myrmecophily:
Beetle Trapped In Amber For 52 Million Years -
Social Parasitism exemplified.
Beetle Trapped In Amber For 52 Million Years -
Social Parasitism exemplified.
A 52-million-year old beetle was able to live alongside ants—preying on
their eggs and usurping resources all within the comfort of their host's nest. Through ways that scientists are still trying to understand, Clavigeritae beetles are able to pass through ant defenses and integrate seamlessly into colony life.
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