A NATURAL-HISTORY OF PLEOTOMODES-NEEDHAMI, GREEN (COLEOPTERA, LAMPYRIDAE) - A FIREFLY SYMBIONT OF ANTS

A firefly, Pleotomodes needhami Green, lives in the nests of two, poss ibly three, species of ants. These ants are the fungus-growing Trachym rmex septentrionalis (McCook), the carnivorous Odontomachus clarus (Ro ger), and perhaps a Dorymyrmex sp. All known specimens of P. needhami have been collected on the grounds of the Archbold Biological Station, Highlands County, Florida. Larvae, pupae, and adults of both sexes we re excavated from the brood-queen-fungal chambers of T. septentrionali s. Ants appeared to ignore the fireflies, and the fireflies were not s een to feed on ants or their brood. Larvae in captivity consumed snail s on the soil surface at night and a single larva was captured on the surface in the field. Pupation begins in late March and the earliest c ollections of adults took place in the first half of April. Neotenous females emerge from ant colonies soon after dark and emit light while waiting near the nest entrance. Males luminesce in the presence of fem ales. Larvae also produce light, both on the surface and underground i n ant colonies.