Let's start with the basics: the adult bug in the photo is a beaded lacewing (Berothidae). In North America this family has only one genus, Lomamyia, with four described (and three undescribed) species in Florida: L. banksi, L. flavicornis, L. hamata, L. longicornis. It is approximately 8 mm long and lays its stalked eggs on wood surfaces near termite nests (1,2). The adults are attracted by light.

Once the larvae are in the termite nest they start their evil deeds. This behavior has been described in (3) based on lab experiments employing termites of the species Reticulitermes hesperus. The 0.07 mg lightweights attack the 30-40 times heavier termite workers one-on-one. The larva points its abdomen toward the termite's head and releases a deadly gas. Within three minutes the victim is on its back and the legs move in an uncontrolled fashion. A few minutes later, the termite's motion stops and the larva makes contact to suck out the victim. Additional experiments have shown that the termite is not dead but paralyzed during this last step as its heart continues to beat for another three hours (if feeding does not occur). Third instar larva are larger and their gas can kill up to six termites simultaneously. This killing capacity obviously allows for an attack mode that does not depend on careful targeting. In any case, the termites are incapable of defending themselves against the larvae and seem to be unaware of them. Although second instar larvae do neither move nor feed, the uninvited guests are not subject to any form of attack by the termites.

The "purposeful" release of gases is rather common among insects and other organisms. More generally, all chemicals released by the individuals of one species to affect the behavior of the members of another species are called allomones (4). An important example are defense mechanisms of plants against herbivores. In the evolutionary armsrace, insects sometimes develop the ability to transform allomones to kairomones (substances beneficial to the receiver but not the emitter). If the substance benefits both involved parties, it is called a synonome.

References: (1) BugGuide.Net - Genus Lomamyia; (2) L. Stange, A Checklist and Bibliography of the Megaloptera and Neuroptera of Florida; (3) J. B. Johnson and K. S. Hagen "A Neuropterous Larva Uses an Allomone to Attack Termites" Nature 289, 506-507, 1981 (abstract); (4) Wikipedia - Allomone.

Lysiphlebus testaceipes and Aphidius colemani are typical examples of parasitic wasps bothering aphids (4,5). These millimeter-sized, black wasps are rarely seen by human eyes. The aphids, however, know them only too well. An attacking wasp lays its egg through an ovipositor into the aphid nymph which then becomes the temporary home and pantry of the wasp larva. The maturing larva digests the aphid's internal organs, which as a result swells to a balloon-like shape and changes color from a healthy yellow to a pale and sickly beige. Two days after the initial incident, the larva cuts a hole in the bottom of the aphid's abdomen, fixes the aphid to a leaf with silk and glue, and finally exits the victim's body. The remaining, enlarged aphid shell dries out and turns into a brown "mummy" (3). These mummies are easily spotted in most aphid populations.

Clearly this aggression calls for a powerful defense strategy. For some aphid species this defense is provided by their ants and/or specialized aphid soldiers. Oleander aphids (Aphis nerii) have developed the behavior to spin and twitch. In addition, the aphids kick with their hind legs (like a very small horse). This kicking motion is often synchronized among groups of neighboring aphids (5). To the unaided eye, the collective kicking and turning of the aphids is quite striking. It is triggered by visual cues as well as gentle vibrations. Recent research by Hartbauer at the University of Graz (Austria) revealed that non-collective kicking of individual aphids is not enough to repel the wasps (5). As Michael Jordan said: "There is no 'i' in team but there is in win." Hartbauer states "This cooperative defense behavior provides an example of a surprising sociality that can be found in some aphid species that are not expected to be social at all."

The kicking and turning of the aphid collective makes for some outstanding dance performances. The publically available ref. (5) contains several nice movies of the dancing aphids but there are also several (perhaps even better) amateur videos on YouTube including this one. For me the social kicking of aphids raises several interesting questions. For example, can a group of aphids sustain kicking oscillations solely by self-stimulation and without a persistent external trigger? I am also curious whether a large group of aphids can selforganize travelling, long-range waves of kicking activity. And lastly there are fundamental questions relating to the evolutionary usefulness of social defense in aphid groups that are genetically different.

References: (1) BugGuide.Net - Aphis nerii; (2) Wikipedia - Aphid; (3) "Natural History of Orange County, California" UC Irvine; (4) Biological Control, Lysiphlebus testaceipes - Cornell University; (5) M. Hartbauer "Collective Defense of Aphis nerii and Uroleucon hypochoeridis (Homoptera, Aphididae) against Natural Enemies" PLoS One 5, e10417, 2010 (full article).