Ant-nest-associate
Guides
Cremastocheilus armatus montanus
Cremastocheilus armatus montanus is a subspecies of anteater scarab beetle, a myrmecophilous beetle that lives within ant colonies. Adults and larvae are predators of ant brood, feeding on ant larvae and pupae. The subspecies occurs in western North America at higher elevations, with records from montane regions of California, Idaho, Montana, Nevada, Oregon, and British Columbia. Like other members of the genus, it exhibits specialized morphological adaptations for life within ant nests, including a heavily armored exoskeleton and modified mouthparts for piercing ant larvae.