FOOD AND REPRODUCTIVE STRATEGIES OF THE MYRMECOPHILOUS STAPHYLINID BEETLE HOMOEUSA-ACUMINATA (ALEOCHARINAE) ON THE FORAGING TRAILS OF ITS HOST ANT LASIUS-FULIGINOSUS (HYMENOPTERA, FORMICIDAE)

The trail following behaviour of the adult myrmecophilous beetle Homoe usa acuminata on the foraging trails on the host ant Lasius fuliginosu s was examined in June and all the observed behaviours were quantified . The beetle appears as a food robber, using the stowaway behaviour wh ich consists of attaching itself to prey transported by ants to the ne st. Foraging trails are also used by the beetles as a meeting place fo r mating. However, the beetle does not enter into the nest and appears as a symbiont poorly integrated in the social life of its host.