Microdon albicomatus

To date, only two other sets of inquilines have been directly examined for their ability to biosynthesize suites of cuticular hydrocarbons that mimic that of their hosts. Larvae of the syrphid fly Microdon albicomatus are obligate predators of the ant Myrmica incompleta, and have qualitatively identical hydrocarbons as host pupae (but different relative abundances). As with the beetles above, [l-14C]acetate was directly incorporated into the fly cuticular hydrocarbons in the same proportions as the various classes of hydrocarbons present (Howard et al., 1990). The other study was by Akino et al. (1999) and involved the larvae... 

Howard R. W., Stanley-Samuelson D. W. and Akre R. D. (1990) Biosynthesis and chemical mimicry of cuticular hydrocarbons from the obligate predator, Microdon albicomatus Novak (Diptera Syrphidae) and its ant prey, Myrmica incompleta Provancher (Hymenoptera Formicidae). J. Kansas Entomol. Soc. 63, 437 443. 

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See also in sourсe #XX -- [ ]

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