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Adranes sp. - Myrmecophilous beetle
Staphylinidae: Pselaphinae
Northern Sierra Nevada, California, USA

photograph © Alex Wild 2005

Ant nests provide an impressive concentration of resources, and many animals have evolved to exploit the ants' riches.  This odd little beetle, only a couple millimeters long, is found in nests of Lasius ants.  The beetle produces secretions that the ants find attractive and induces the ants to feed it.

 
USA CA, El Dorado Co.: 16 km E Georgetown, Blodgett Forest.  22.v.2005 38º55'N 120º40'W, 1260m.  Partially logged coniferous forest.
#AW2622, voucher specimens deposited at ALWC.


This image is copyrighted by the photographer and cannot be used without permission. To obtain permission to use this image, please email Alex Wild. (alwild (at) myrmecos.net).  Most of the photographs on myrmecos.net are reduced from their original size and compressed for more efficient web transmission.  In some cases, higher quality versions are available.

This image was captured with a Canon EOS D60, with a Canon 65/2.8 MPE 1-5x Macro lens.