Ant-Mimicking Beetles Live With Ants and Even Feed on Them
Editorials News | Mar-21-2017
This discovery has a spy-movie-like plot. Enemies live among the hosts unidentified and feast on them later! Such is the case with beetles that belong to the Staphylinidae and are called rove beetles. Their hosts are army ants.
Across the tropical forest floor are several army ant colonies. The ant-mimicking beetles look like ants, smell like ants, March with ants, and even groom the ants. They do all this with excellent deception. Vivid changes in body shape and behaviour fools the ants into accepting these beetles. Rove beetles have glands that secrete defensive chemicals that help them to survive among the army ants without the ants wanting to devour the beetles. This is how these beetles evolve into army ant parasites and later feed on them.
This phenomenon has occurred multiple times in the history of evolution in these beetles. The interesting part is that rove beetles and army ants are not even close relatives. Their last common ancestor lived 105 million years ago!
Content: https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2017/03/170309132253.htm
Image: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Weaver_ant
Related News
- The Impact of Urbanization on Biodiversity Conservation
- Purchasing with Heart: Mindful Purchase Decisions
- The Global Impact of Microfinance: Small Loans, Big Dreams
- Investing in Impact: Financing for a Better Society
- Heroes Challenging Ocean Waste: Plastic Crusaders
- Power to the People: Community Renewable Initiatives
- Techno Titans: Advances Boosting the Green Sector
- Advocates of Change: Movements for Social Change
- Eco Escapes: Touring Diligently, preserving Paradise
- The Transformative Power of Creative Therapy: Art Heals
Most popular news
- The Law Of Equivalent Exchange
- Essay On Issues And Challenges Of Rural Development In India
- Srinivasa Ramanujan And His Inventions
- The Youth Is The Hope Of Our Future!
- Poverty In India: Facts, Causes, Effects And Solutions
- Top 20 Outdoor Games In India
- Festivals Of India: Unity In Diversity
- Role Of Women In Society
- The Impact Of Peer Pressure On Students' Academic Performance
- Books As Companion