A rare fly species infiltrates nests by wearing a fake termite’s head
The natural world is filled with tricksters. African daisies imitate flies in order to fool real insects into mating with them, and depositing pollen. Spiders are known to scurry around like ants in order to avoid danger. A team of international scientists has observed a blow flies living in disguise with termites by wearing “termite masks.” The findings were published in a journal called Current Biology on February 10. A chance discovery
A group of scientists found a species (family Calliphoridae), whose larvae could infiltrate harvester termite colonies in the Anti-Atlas Mountains of southern Morocco. The Spanish National Research Council’s Institute of Evolutionary Biology IBE research group focuses primarily on ants and butterfly. The butterflies did not fly because the area was dry and lacked rainfall. They were surprised when they decided to search for some ants. “When we lifted the stone, we discovered a termite nest with three fly larvae we’d never seen before. Roger Vila, an evolutionary biologist and study co-author at IBE, said in a press release that the water may have flooded the nest’s deeper layers and the larvae were now visible on the surface. “It must be an extremely rare species, because we have made three more expeditions in that area and, despite lifting hundreds of stones, we found only two more flies, together, in another termite mound.”
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Put on a “termite mask”
The team took a closer look at the ant’s bodies to see what types of adaptations were unique to this species of blow fly. The calliphorid fly larvae use disguise to infiltrate the termite mounds. The larvae wear a “termite-mask” on their backs. The mask has a non-functional, adorned head with palps (forward appendages at the mouth of the termites) and antennae. These are the same size of those on large harvester termites. The masks also feature two false eyes. These fake peepers serve as the larvae’s airways. Vila said that most termites are several metres underground and do not have visual perception. “However, harvester termites come out at dusk to collect grass, so they have functional eyes that the larvae are able to mimic with their spiracles.”
The larvae also use unusual “tentacles” around their bodies that are detailed termite antennae dupes. The team used a scanning electron microscopy to look at the tentacles and saw that they help the larvae communicate with several termites at the same time.
Spray on a chemical disguise
Everything inside a termite nest is dark, so the termites use their antennae to recognize each other. They can use their antennae to detect differences in shape and scent between siblings. Soldier termites will attack and dismember intruders if they detect them from another colony.
To avoid being detected and likely dismembered, the bowflies mimic their host’s distinctive odour. The analysis by the team revealed that the chemical makeup of the larvae was indistinguishable to the termites within the colony. The chemical disguise allows the termites to communicate with each other and is a key factor in interacting. Make a termite sharing food
When they first found the larvae, the team was in the food chambers of the termite mound. The team observed the larvae in a lab set-up and found that they tended to settle in the area with the most termites. The termites were constantly watching them. The team was unable to determine what the larvae ate, but they observed that the termites were feeding the larvae with their mouths. Vila said that the larvae not only tolerated them, but also communicated with them constantly through their antenna-like tentacles. “The termites even seem to feed them, although this has not yet been unequivocally demonstrated.”
[ Related: Even ants may hold grudges. ]
One of the study’s biggest challenges was the difficulty of keeping the insects in the lab. The study involves the maintenance of desert termites that live in special conditions. The adult form of these termites is still a mystery, and their diet remains unknown. Their diet is currently unknown, and their adult form remains a mystery,” said Vila.
Evolve quickly
According to the team, the relationship between the blow fly larvae and termites appears to be some form of social parasitism or symbiosis. The relationship between termites and humpbacked flies is similar. It is the adult humpback fly and not its larvae which mimics termites.
Genomic analysis also revealed that the fly is Rhyncomya. No known species of this genus have this unusual lifestyle or physical traits, so the team believes that this new species must have evolved very quickly.
“This discovery invites us to reconsider the limits and potential of symbiotic relationships and social parasitism in nature,” said Vila. But, most importantly, we need to realise just how little we know about the diversity and specialisations of insects. They are vital organisms for ecosystems.
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