Biology of Staphylinidae 245 
predacious tendencies of the beetles is also indicated in the fact 
that they live inside the puparium instead of inside the body of 
the host, and there is no period when host and parasite live 
together without apparent harm to the host, for immediately 
upon entering the puparium the beetle begins the meal which 
will allow it to pupate 
These border line behaviors of the staphylinids are in accord 
with Wheeler’s (Wheeler 23:195-196) view that parasitism 
among the insects is more nearly refined predatism and has its 
evolutionary origin in predatism. “In some groups of animals 
symbiotic or mutualistic relations may thus lapse into json uaty 
but it seems to me improbable that parasitism among insects has 
had such an origin. The common and perhaps exclusive source 
of the phenomenon among these highly specialized organisms is 
predatism. In fact, the most typical of the parasitic insects are 
really refined predators, which usually, on growing to their full 
Stature, kill the hosts they have been carefully sparing, and one 
might say, using as iood-eciting pecbueyie Since this is not 
exactly the form of parasitism exhibited by other organisms, 
such as the tape-worms, certain eat and bacteria, I[ preter 
to call it ‘parasitoidism’.” (Wheeler 23: 195- 196). 
Se Ginger is further discussed by Root (24:487) as follows, 
“Now when — — ologist except a age entomologist refers 
to parasitic si is extremely likely that he is thinking, not 
of ihe true eee oe of the Bes _—— parasites, Most be the truly 
parasitic insects parasitize Loe The ee-louse’, a degen- 
erate fly ich is a true external ie ot one ho sain ee is one 
of the few known epti e this n nearly every then, 
the insects which parasitize other insects are of the y — gro 
mic entomologist, for example, spea e possibility 
aks 
controlling some i et t by means of its Seraatee ie is referring 
© these parasitoid paras 
“These apse species differ from the true parasites in sev ata) 
n the firs place, the para asitoid condition is always one o 
2 
tS 
rae 
ee 
said, the led. pe sitic lies nopt ik are rea cally very economical 
fem i ithin 1 
devoured, until nothing remains of the host but an empty s whi 
fc paras rasitoid ares often utilizes as a convenient and protected place 
its own pupation.” 
