Chemical ecology of myrmecophilous rove beetles

A myrmecophilous life-style, i.e. living near or in ant nests is frequently found in rove beetles. Obviously, chemical compounds of exocrine glands and specific behaviours enable the beetles to live in close contact with ants. Our studies point to the fact that volatile compounds of the tergal gland secretion of species of the genus Pella mimic panic alarm pheromones of their hosts ants Lasius fulginosus (chemical mimicry) to avoid ant attacks..
Remarkably, different species of the genus Pella and Zyras co-occur in ant nests which indicates that each species has its own ecological niche. We assume that this niche separation involves adaptations in the chemical composition of the tergal gland secration and the cutucular hydrocarbons. To test this hypothesis we study the following aspects of the biology of the genera Pella and Zyras:
- Life style of the different species in the host ant nests.
- The release mechanism of the tergal gland secretion.
- The behavioural effect of the tergal gland compounds on the ants
- The potential chemical mimcry of ant cuticular hydrocarbons by the beetles