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Granada, Southern Spain, March, 2007

The tiny insect (coleopter? wasp?) tried to attack the big one... and the big one tried to take off the smaller with its leg... without success

Sorry the poor photo. :(



thx

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I'd say that the tiny is a coleopter. Indeed, we can see clearly the elyctra.
I don?t know about parasitism habits in Coleoptera, but I doubt it! I know that there are flies and wasps that parasite coleopters. But a coleopter parasite another one... I don?t think so.

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Y only know one species of parasitic beetle, but it's parasite in rodents, not in insects.

The mosty probably is that the small beetle was only in the Meloe violaceus, but not parasiting it.

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The small beetle is not resting in the Meloe... it is eating Meloe! I'm sure. ;)

Two cropped images (poor quality, sorry)





thx

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What not phor?sie?

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Off-topic, but since parasitic beetles were mentioned, there is at least one rove beetle which is a parasitoid of calliphorid pupae.

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I think that this cannot be a phoresy. the tiny beetle runs much more quick than the big one! :D Perhaps an accidental encounter? :D

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Hi all, this is an easy case ;-)

The large one is a Meloe species (Meloidae, id possible by dorsal view) and the small beetle is a member of Anthicidae (id without collected specimen?).

Meloidae are producing a poison called Cantharidin, Anthicidae are searching dead Meloidae which can be located by this poison. Anthicidae males have to consume Cantharidin to be attractive for females - no mating without Cantharidin. And if you disturb a Meloidae you will get a secretion including Cantharidin.

Cantharidin: http://en.wikiped...antharidin
With more content in german http://de.wikiped...antharidin
A wellknown Meloidae: http://en.wikiped...esicatoria

Best regards
Frank

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Attention, cantharidin, they is dangerous for mankind! :o

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@ Kahis:
Not only one rove beetle, a complete tribe of the Subfamily Aleocharinae of Staphylinidae ;-)
Greetings
Frank

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cantharidin.. dangerous for us? hmmm.... nice to know this. We can menace someone that harass us with this beetle!!! "Get out, if not... I give you this beetle and obligate you eat this" :D eheh

"This can cause a harmful condition known as priapism in men, where an erection lasts more than about four hours." iaics. :S
But this just happens if someone ingests the beetle.. however why stomach doesn?t destroy canthadirin?? :S Chloridric acid is very strong..

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so the only beetles that parasite flies are those that belongs to the Subfamily Aleocharinae of Staphylinidae? Anything else? (known so far, of course..)

And only Tachinidae can parasite beetles? ANymore families in diptera?