Scientists have discovered a species of blow fly larvae that can infiltrate and socialize with termite mounds, a unique case of “termite masquerading” in the insect world. The international study, published in Current Biology, reveals that these larvae have developed a range of morphological and chemical adaptations to disguise themselves as termites.
Led by Roger Vila from the Institute of Evolutionary Biology (IBE), the research team found the larvae inhabiting termite mounds in Morocco’s Anti-Atlas mountain range. The larvae display a “termite mask” on their tail, including antennae and breathing holes that mimic those of a large harvester termite.
The unique disguise allows the larvae to communicate with termites through contact with their antenna-like tentacles and even receive food from the termites. However, the team was unable to transfer this symbiotic relationship to the laboratory, highlighting the challenges of studying these insects in captivity.
Phylogenomic studies confirm that the blow fly belongs to the genus Rhyncomya, which has never been seen before. The discovery suggests an extraordinary case of evolutionary adaptation and invites researchers to reconsider the limits and potential of symbiotic relationships in nature.
Source: https://phys.org/news/2025-02-fly-larva-fake-termite-infiltrate.html