The Ant-nest Beetle is a small, robust scarab that lives exclusively inside ant nests, tolerated by the ants because of special glands on its thorax that produce secretions the ants consume. While exploiting the nest's warmth and food, the beetle's larvae feed on ant brood. This remarkable ant-beetle mutualism involves complex chemical mimicry.
Habitat
Ant nests in sandy soil, especially harvester and carpenter ants
Diet
Larvae: ant brood. Adults: exploit ant nest provisions
How common
Uncommon
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