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Termite-mimic blow fly discovered


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#1 Offline OhNoNotAgain - Posted February 10 2025 - 9:54 AM

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Fly larva with a fake termite face can infiltrate termite mounds and socialize

 

 

https://phys.org/new...infiltrate.html

 

[NOTE: These harvester termites collect grass and have working eyes]

 

On the back of the body, the larvae display a "termite mask": a non-functional "head" with antennae and palps the same size as those of a large harvester termite. They also have two false eyes, which are actually the larvae's breathing holes.

In addition, the larvae have unusual "tentacles" around their bodies that mimic termite antennae in great detail, which the team was able to demonstrate using scanning electron microscopy. The numerous tentacles surrounding the body of the larvae facilitate simultaneous communication with several termites.

These maggots ... also manage to mimic the distinctive odor of their hosts.


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Formiculture Journals::

Veromessor pergandei, andrei; Novomessor cockerelli

Camponotus fragilis; also separate journal: Camponotus sansabeanus (inactive), vicinus, laevigatus/quercicola

Liometopum occidentale;  Prenolepis imparis; Myrmecocystus mexicanus (inactive)

Pogonomyrmex subnitidus and californicus (inactive)

Tetramorium sp.

Termites: Zootermopsis angusticollis

 

Isopods: A. gestroi, granulatum, kluugi, maculatum, vulgare; C. murina; P. hoffmannseggi, P. haasi, P. ornatus; V. parvus

Spoods: Phidippus sp.


#2 Offline MyrmecologyMaven - Posted February 10 2025 - 1:52 PM

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Never heard of termite infiltrators before! What would the term be for termite mimics? I know for ants it's myrmecophiles.


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