2 replies to this topic

[Salmon]

I found a myrmecophilic rove beetle running across the ground today, and I thought about adding it to my Camponotus colony to add a bit of extra interest. (I'm fairly sure I've seen this same species in a Camponotus nest.) Problem is that their grubs feed on ant larvae, and I don't want it to turn out to be a female and lay eggs in the formicarium. Does anyone know if there's a way to determine the sex of these beetles without killing them?

[Subverted]

I think the specific information you need to determine this will likely be buried in a paper somewhere. I was pretty sure rove beetles could be sexed by looking at their last few abdominal segments and some quick google searching seems to suggest that is in fact the case.

 

Hopefully your species is mentioned somewhere in this journal article Revision of Myrmecophilous Genus Lomechusa (Coleoptera: Staphylinidae: Aleocharinae) by Peter Hlavac.

[Salmon]

Well I just learned from that paper that this beetle isn't a Lomechusa, but actually a member of the very similar genus Xenodusa.

Similar to how Lomechusa beetles overwinter in Myrmica colonies and breed in Formica or Camponotus colonies, Xenodusa apparently overwinter in Camponotus colonies and breed in Formica colonies. Still wouldn't trust a female in my Camponotus colony.

Edited by Salmon, April 28 2017 - 1:40 PM.