Predatory Behavior of Canthon virens (Coleoptera: Scarabaeidae): A Predator of Leafcutter Ants
Figure 2
(a) A beetle flies zigzag over prey and lands on its back. (b) The beetle cuts the neck of the queen and is attached to it by its legs. (c) The queen has been killed: the beetle examines the prey, before rolling it. (d) Sometimes the beetle may attach itself to the thorax of the queen, having the head turned toward the queen abdomen. (e) When the queen is dead, many other beetles may join. (f) After a few minutes only two beetles remain to bury the queen. (g) The beetle is partially buried and has its abdomen and hind legs facing up and is partially buried; this phenomenon is observed when the beetle buries its prey by itself. (h) The nest of Canthon virens, with a channel about 1 cm in diameter and 15 cm deep. (i) Chamber at the end of the canal, with the brood balls.
