1982] Howard, McDaniel Blomquist — Three Termitophiles 163 
small amounts, such an interpretation would explain the lack of GC 
evidence to date for beetle derived biochemicals different from those 
of their termite host. An experimental test of this hypothesis must 
await the development of suitable bioassays. 
Reticu/itermes virginicus and its termitophiles have been co- 
evolving for a long period of time (Kistner, 1968, 1979). The beetles 
are totally integrated into the social life of the colony and appear to 
be chemically indistinguishable from the termites (chemical mim- 
icry) vis-a-vis their cuticular hydrocarbons. Most known termite- 
termitophile associations, however, occur within the family Termiti- 
dae (Kistner, 1979). These associations are characterized by termito- 
philes ranging in status from nonintegrated to totally integrated. If 
our hypothesis is correct regarding the integrating role of cuticular 
hydrocarbons then a corresponding spectrum of congruences of 
hydrocarbon profiles would be predicted among the termitophiles 
of these communities. We are presently testing this hypothesis. 
Many species of ants are known to have inquilines associated with 
them, but unlike termitophiles, these myrmecophiles are seldom 
host specific (Wilson, 1971). In addition, myrmecophiles seem to 
show a wider range of integration (or lack thereof) than do termito- 
philes. A correspondingly greater range of integrating mechanisms 
might therefore be expected, and have been found. These include 
body color, appeasement substances, trichomes, unicellular epi- 
dermal glands, physogastry, exudatoria and grandular antennae. 
All have been superbly reviewed by Wilson (1971) and Kistner 
(1979). The most recent addition to this plethora of mechanisms is 
the finding that the scarab beetle Myrmecaphodius excavaticollis 
(Blanchard) associated with various Solenopsis spp. (“fire ants”) has 
a cuticular hydrocarbon composition which closely mimics that of 
its current ant host (Van der Meer, personal communication in 
Howard and Blomquist, 1982). The mechanism by which the beetles 
achieve this is unknown. Each of the four ant hosts that the scarab 
beetles is found with, however, has a unique hydrocarbon profile. 
Perhaps ants, like subterranean termites, also use cuticular hydro- 
carbons as species-recognition cues. Clearly a great deal remains to 
be learned before we achieve an adequate understanding of the 
diversity of relationships between social insects and their guests. 
