Prehistoric Ant Imposter
Researchers from the American
Museum of Natural history have recently published a report on a 52 million year
old insect fossil. The insect, found encased in amber in India, was named Protoclaviger trichodens, and appears to be the oldest known species to
exhibit a unique survival strategy known
as “myrmecophily”. Myrmecophily is a form of parasitism, in which an insect parasitizes
an entire colony, rather than an individual.
Today, there are 370 known species
belonging to Clavigeritae, a group of myrmecophilous beetles , who like this
fossilized specimen, infiltrate and subsist in ant colonies. Normally, ants
have a complex system of pheromones that are used to differentiate intruders
from colony members. Once singled out, intruders are quickly and violently
dispatched of. The Clavigeritae beetles have evolved methods to circumvent this
recognition system, and walk amongst the ants as if they are a member of the
colony.
Living within the ant colony offers
many advantages to the beetles, as they enjoy the prime shelter and real-estate
built by the ants, without having to assist the colony. The beetles feed on the
ants eggs and young hatchlings. In some instances, the ants will feed the
beetles directly via trophallaxis.
To survive in this unique way, the
Clavigeritae have evolved very unique body morphologies. The body segments of
the beetles are fused together to provide protection from the ant’s jaws, as
they are commonly lifted and carried around the colony (as seen above, look at those lazy things). Additionally, the
beetles are covered in oil secreting glands and hairs, which act to disguise
their true identity from the ants.
Additionally, the beetles mouthparts are recessed and adapted to better
accept trophallactic gifts from the ants. These insects have evolved to
literally be the animal kingdom’s biggest mooches.
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