The evolutionary trap that keeps rove beetles alive
Rove beetles have evolved a neat trick to survive. They cloak themselves in ant pheromones, allowing them to enter and remain undetected within ant colonies. But it comes with a catch. Once a rove beetle lineage evolves this kind of obligate symbiotic relationship, it can never go back and survive i...
Image: Phys.org
Rove beetles have evolved a neat trick to survive. They cloak themselves in ant pheromones, allowing them to enter and remain undetected within ant colonies. But it comes with a catch. Once a rove beetle lineage evolves this kind of obligate symbiotic relationship, it can never go back and survive independently, according to a new study published in the journal Cell.
Originally published at Phys.org
