Beetles Associated With the Mound‐Building Ant, Formica Ulkei Emery

Abstract

The mound-building ant, Formica ulkei Emery, has been reported as far west as South Dakota to Nova Scotia and New Brunswick (Wheeler, 1926; Holmquist, 1928). It is recorded from Wisconsin (Burrill and Smith, 1918) and Illinois, and is apparently abundant in northern Ohio where its range merges with that of the eastern mound-builder, Formica exsectoides.

Systematics, distributions, and bionomics of the Neoeocatops gen. nov. and Nemadus of North America (Coleoptera: Leiodidae: Cholevinae: Anemadini)

“…A single specimen was taken in the nest of Formica ulkei, the only record of a specific host association. We think it notable that Park (1929Park ( , 1935, in one of the more intensive studies of inhabitants of the nests of F. ulkei, seemingly did not find Nemadus spp. with these ants in northeastern Illinois.…”

Redescription of the genus Megastilicus Casey (Staphylinidae, Paederinae) with the description of a new species

“…It was already mentioned in the original description (Casey 1889) that the genus is myrmecophilous and perhaps a predator (Wickham 1900), but its biology and behaviour was studied in more detail by Park (1935). His studies revealed several defence mechanisms that allow the beetle to enter the nest and prey on the host.…”

“…Such mechanisms are, e.g., their hard exoskeleton, the overall agility and a defensive abdominal secretion released when they are attacked by an ant. He also noted that the beetle is clearly not integrated into the nest and persecuted by its hosts (Park 1935). The genus was also mentioned in a summary of myrmecophilous rove beetles by Parker (2016).…”