have adapted to circumvent the

termites’ defenses. Some have

only a superficial relationship,

being scavengers in and around

the nest, while others have

complex physical and chemical

systems to deceive their hosts,

and are fully integrated into the

colony. An extreme example are

the larvae of the Australian

Megaxenus (Aderidae), which imitate

the queen termite so that the workers

bring them food and clean them. Click beetle

larvae of the genus Pyrearinus (Elateridae) live

in burrows on termite mounds in Brazilian

grasslands, using bioluminescence to attract

prey to their powerful jaws.

right | Penichrolucanus copricephalus

(Lucanidae) This very small and

uncommon hornless stag beetle from

Southeast Asia is associated with

termite nests.

below | Pyrearinus termitilluminans (Elateridae)

Bioluminescent click beetle larvae light up a termite

mound in Brazil’s Pantanal. They are predators that

use light to attract flying insects, including termites.