Nature 289, 506 - 507 (05 February 1981); doi:10.1038/289506a0

A neuropterous larva uses an allomone to attack termites

J. B. Johnson & K. S. Hagen

Division of Biological Control, Department of Entomological Sciences, University of California, Berkeley, California 94720

Larvae of Lomamyia spp. (Neuroptera: Berothidae) have been tentatively associated with several types of prey since they were first identified¹. In all cases, the assumed prey lived in a confined habitat−an ant nest or termite gallery². Lomamyia latipennis Carpenter has been the most thoroughly studied of these unusual Neuroptera. The immature states were described^3,4 and the association with termites strengthened using Zootermopsis angusticollis Hagen (Isoptera: Kalotermitidae) as prey for a group of larvae⁴. A low survival rate of the larvae suggested that another termite might be the normal host. We now report field and laboratory findings which demonstrate the predator−prey relationship between L. latipennis and the subterranean termite Reticulitermes hesperus Banks (Isoptera: Rhinotermitidae) and describe their unique method of attacking prey with an aggressive allomone.

References

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5.	Huber, I. Acarologia 20, 112−115 (1979). | PubMed | ISI | ChemPort |