Predator-prey-interaction
Guides
Actenodes simi
Actenodes simi is a species of metallic wood-boring beetle in the family Buprestidae, first described by Fisher in 1940. It has been recorded from Tennessee and Missouri in the United States, with specimens collected by the predatory wasp Cerceris fumipennis. The species is part of the diverse jewel beetle fauna of North America, where it occurs as a relatively uncommon member of its genus.
Amorpha juglandis
walnut sphinx
Amorpha juglandis, the walnut sphinx, is the sole species in the monotypic moth genus Amorpha (family Sphingidae). The species is notable for its caterpillar's unique defensive behavior: producing high-pitched whistles by expelling air through specialized abdominal spiracles. This acoustic defense has been experimentally shown to startle avian predators. Adults are nocturnal and active primarily during early night hours.
Archips purpurana
omnivorous leafroller moth
Archips purpurana, commonly known as the omnivorous leafroller moth, is a tortricid moth species described by Clemens in 1865. The species is notable for its leafrolling larval behavior, where caterpillars bind leaves together with silk to form shelters. It has been recorded as a host for the mason wasp Ancistrocerus unifasciatus, which exploits the caterpillar's escape response to capture it. The species occurs widely across eastern North America.
Chauliognathus lewisi lewisi
A subspecies of soldier beetle in the family Cantharidae, Chauliognathus lewisi lewisi is known from the southwestern United States and northern Mexico. It has been documented in Arizona and adjacent regions, where it occurs in association with flowering vegetation. The subspecies is part of a genus commonly referred to as soldier beetles, many of which are flower visitors and predators of other small insects.
Desmometopa
freeloader flies
Desmometopa is a genus of freeloader flies in the family Milichiidae containing more than 50 described species. These tiny flies are notable kleptoparasites, frequently observed feeding on prey captured by spiders, praying mantises, and assassin bugs. They appear within seconds of a predator securing prey, taking advantage of the kill without contributing to its capture. Predators generally ignore them due to their minute size.
Formica oreas
Hill Mound Ant
Formica oreas is a thatching ant in the Formica rufa species group, known for constructing conspicuous mound nests from plant material. The species is an aggressive predator with well-documented chemical defense mechanisms. Workers produce alarm-recruitment pheromones from their poison gland (formic acid) and Dufour's gland (hydrocarbons) to coordinate nest defense. These semiochemicals are exploited by blacklegged ticks (Ixodes scapularis) as predator avoidance cues, representing a documented case of eavesdropping on predator communication signals.
Hemileuca eglanterina
Sheep Moth, Common Sheep Moth
Hemileuca eglanterina, commonly known as the sheep moth or common sheep moth, is a day-flying saturniid moth native to western North America. The species exhibits remarkable geographic variation in coloration, ranging from nearly black to pink/yellow to the typical orange with black markings. Adults are short-lived and lack functional mouthparts, relying entirely on fat reserves accumulated during the larval stage. The species has been documented in coevolutionary dynamics with Argiope spiders, which appear to lure male moths using chemical mimicry of female moth sex pheromones.
Olcella parva
chloropid fly, frit fly
Olcella parva is a species of frit fly in the family Chloropidae, first described by Adams in 1904 under the basionym Siphonella parva. It belongs to the New World genus Olcella, which exhibits high diversity in South America. The species has been documented engaging in kleptoparasitic behavior, attracted to chemical cues from damaged or preyed-upon insects.
Olcella trigramma
Olcella trigramma is a small fly in the family Chloropidae, known primarily from South America. The genus Olcella is a New World group with high diversity in South America, and this species has been documented as a kleptoparasite, feeding on fluids from prey captured by predatory insects such as assassin bugs and spiders. Like other members of its genus, it possesses a long geniculate proboscis that facilitates feeding on exposed fluids without directly competing with the predator. The species is attracted to chemical cues, particularly defensive compounds released by heteropteran prey such as stink bugs.