The Ant beetle, Thanasimus formicarius, is so called because it has bright, conspicuous markings similar to velvet ants which are found in the same habitats, but have a very painful sting. The similarity of the markings acting as a warning sign to potential predators by a harmless species is an example of Batesian mimicry.
Thanasimus formicarius may be seen on pine trees where they prey on the bark beetles which attack, and may even kill, living trees. The ant beetle is attracted to these attacked trees both by the same volatiles (vapours given off by the tree) as their host and the aggregation pheromone of the bark beetle. Thanasimus lays its eggs in the rough bark, and the hatched larvae live under the bark, entering the galleries of their prey, and feeding on the eggs, larvae, and pupae of the destructive bark beetles.
Trials have indicated that the ant beetle can reduce the offspring production of some species of bark beetle by nearly 90%.
