Egyptian predator beetle

Appearance

"Anthia sexmaculata" can reach a length of 40 millimetres. Body is black with whitish markings. Incongruously this species has got six markings, but it has about 14 pale markings on its body, but the number can vary.

Naming

Subspecies include:
⤷  "Anthia sexmaculata marginata" Latreille, 1823
⤷  "Anthia sexmaculata sexmaculata"

Distribution

This species, originating in India, is distributed widely along the northern states of Africa, from the Atlantic Ocean to the Red Sea. It is characteristic of desert regions.

Behavior

These beetles have an unusual life cycle; young larvae enter ants' nests and remain there feeding on the ants and their larvae. They soon assume the scent of their ant hosts and are accepted as members of the colony. They move about with their bodies lifted high up off the ground to avoid the heat of the substrate. Their mandibles, although large, are not strong enough for defence. Instead, they squirt an acrid fluid from the anus to disable their enemies. This defence strategy has earned them the popular name of 'oogenpisser' i.e. 'eye-squirter'. Their large eyes, mandibles and speed of movement are similar to those of tiger beetles, but these beetles are flightless. They feed on other insects.