#beaded lacewing

The larvae of the beaded lacewing (Lomamyia latipennis) fart on the much larger termites to paralyze them before eating them. They can paralyze up to 6 termites with a single fart which paralyzes them for ~3 hours. – WTF Fun Facts

Bug of the Day

This wacky-looking beaded lacewing (Lomamyia longicollis) showed up at the porch light the other night. It did this weird wobbly back-and-forth dance whenever I pointed the camera lens at it, which is why none of the ten shots I took are in focus (humiliated myself in front of @eumorpha-dream this afternoon while trying to imitate it ;-)).

But the absolute weirdest thing about bearded lacewings is what bugguide.net has in its description of this creature:

Eggs are stalked, laid on wood surfaces near termite nests. Larvae live with and prey on termites, using an immobilizing gas (containing an allomone) discharged from their anus.

Beaded Lacewing larvae may use silent-but-deadly farts to catch their prey.

Here’s my favorite line from this wired article: “Fecal fume-induced paralysis lasted for three hours.” 

Family Berothidae (Beaded Lacewings)

Berothidae is a family of Neuropteran insects commonly known as beaded lacewings. With 22 genera and ~100 species beaded lacewings are found worldwide, but are typically restricted to subtropical and tropical areas. Much is still known of their biology/ecology but it is known that Berothids will lay their eggs on wood near termite nests. Some larvae will live with and prey on the their termite hosts, using a gas discharged from their anus to immobilize the termites. Adult Berothids are thought to not feed at all.

Classification

Animalia-Arthropoda-Insecta-Neuroptera-Hemerobiiformia-Berothidae