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Clytra
quadripunctata also is a species in the family of leaf
beetles. The female produce similar "bunches" as the species introduced before.
In contrast, these beetles do not lay them on bark. Often, you can find
these beetles in shrubs and trees above hills of wood ants.
The female adheres the fecal pellets to the surface of the egg by a special gland of her hind part. While doing so, she holds the egg with her hind feet, as shown in the picture. When the egg has been wrapped sufficiently, the female drops it onto the ant-hill - or carries it there, if it is not too far away. Once on the surface of the ant-hill, the egg is carried into the nest by the ants. There the larva hatches and, similar to the previous species, keeps the egg case as a shelter. The egg case changes its shape during its time of use. The pointed tips of the pellets become more even and the larva, as it grows, enlarges the case. The egg case remains an essential place that offers the larva protection against the ants. Without it, the larva would be lost. The larva feeds on discharge and dead ants, occasionally it also eats the eggs of ants. It hibernates in its egg case, which it then closes. In mid spring, it turns into a chrysalis that hatches in late spring and leaves the ant-hill. |
