Premium
Insights on the association of A merican C etoniinae beetles with ants
Author(s) -
Puker Anderson,
Rosa Cassiano S.,
Orozco Jesús,
Solar Ricardo R. C.,
Feitosa Rodrigo M.
Publication year - 2015
Publication title -
entomological science
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.536
H-Index - 28
eISSN - 1479-8298
pISSN - 1343-8786
DOI - 10.1111/ens.12085
Subject(s) - biology , nest (protein structural motif) , ecology , hymenoptera , ant , host (biology) , insect , mutualism (biology) , myrmecophily , myrmecophyte , zoology , nectar , pollen , biochemistry
Cetoniinae beetles ( C oleoptera: S carabaeoidea: S carabaeidae) can occupy the nests of social insects. In many cases the beetles located within the colonies of social insects encounter a place of shelter and food resources for both adults and immatures. Despite the numerous cohabitation records, the relationship of C etoniinae beetles with their ant hosts remains mostly unexplored. In this review we provide hypotheses explaining this ant–beetle association. A conceptual model is presented on the processes underpinning the occupation of the nest and the consequences that unfold after occupation, including: (i) death of the ant colony; (ii) death of beetles; and (iii) coexistence. We also provide an exhaustive list of A merican C etoniinae beetle species found associated with ants and discuss the symbiotic relationships occurring between the beetles and their host ants.