. Entomology : with special reference to its biological and economic aspects. Lomechusa stnnnosa being freed of mites by Dinarda dentata.—After Wasmann. cophilous beetles furnish their hosts with a much-coveted secre-tion and receive every attention from the ants, which cleanthese valuable beetles and even feed them mouth to mouth, asthe ants feed one another. Lomechusa (Fig. 286) is one ofthese favored guests, as it has abdominal tufts of hairs fromwhich the ants secure a secreted fluid. Atcuiclcs (Fig. 287)is another; it solicits and obtains food from the mouth of aforaging ant as if it were
. Entomology : with special reference to its biological and economic aspects. Lomechusa stnnnosa being freed of mites by Dinarda dentata.—After Wasmann. cophilous beetles furnish their hosts with a much-coveted secre-tion and receive every attention from the ants, which cleanthese valuable beetles and even feed them mouth to mouth, asthe ants feed one another. Lomechusa (Fig. 286) is one ofthese favored guests, as it has abdominal tufts of hairs fromwhich the ants secure a secreted fluid. Atcuiclcs (Fig. 287)is another; it solicits and obtains food from the mouth of aforaging ant as if it were an ant itself. In the , INTERRELATIONS OF INSECTS 343 Atciiiclcs cava occurs in the nests of Formica nifa, and is muchprized by this ant on account of the fluid which the beetlesecretes from glandular hairs on the sides of the beetle Claviger has at the base of each elytron a tuftof hairs, which the ants lick persistently. This beetle is blind. Atemelcs ctnarginatus being fed by an ant, Myrmica scabrinodis.—After Wasmann. and appears to be incapable of feeding- itself; for when de-prived of ant-assistance it dies, even though surrounded byfood. These cases of symbiosis, or mutual benefit, are wellauthenticated. Visitors.—Many myrmecophilous insects are not restrictedto ants nests, but are free to enter or to leave. This is true ofsuch Staphylinidse as visit formicaries simply for shelter or tofeed upon detritus, and these visitors are treated with indif-ference by the ants. Intruders.—Xot so, however, with species that are inimicalto the interests of the ants, such as many species of Staphy-linidse and Histeridre, which steal food from the ants, killthem or devour their larvK or pupcC at every ants are hostile to these marauders, though the latter oftenescape through their agility or else rely upon their armor forprotection. Qucdius hrcvis and Mynucdonia, as Schwarzobserves, are soft-bodied forms which
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Keywords: ., bookcentury1900, bookdecade1900, booksubjectentomology, bookyear1
