Posted by John Carr on 19-03-2015 21:59
#7
Tony Irwin wrote:
John - are you thinking of the record in Walter's "The Texas leaf-cutting ant and its control" - it mentions P.fuscicornis (=P.debilis) reared from nest debris at 7 to 10 feet depth. I'm not convinced there's any particular association. Are there any other references?
That's the only one I know of. I haven't studied the subject, I just happened to have seen that record.
At least some species of
Philygria breed in non-aquatic habitats where ants could be found. The mystery is why a maggot that feeds on photosynthetic bacteria would be found in a dark place. Maybe ants stock cyanobacteria, at least incidentally.
Or maybe ants stock fly pupae, which hatch before they are eaten.
Edited by John Carr on 19-03-2015 22:08