Larvae of the Japanese termitophilous predator Isoscelipteron okamotonis (Neuroptera, Berothidae) use their mandibles and silk web to prey on termites

Abstract

Several species of Berothidae are known to be specialist predators of termites during their larval stages. A female of the Japanese berothid Isoscelipteron okamotonis (Nakahara, 1914) was captured in the field and laid eggs in captivity. Of 67 eggs, 20 hatched into larvae, 3 of 9 which pupated and 1 of which reached the adult stage. The first and third instars preyed on workers of the termite Reticulitermes speratus, although the second instars did not. Larvae did not show the specific predatory behaviors observed in Northern American relatives. Instead, they bound paralyzed termites with silk that was apparently used for hunting. This is the first record of an Old World berothid raised from egg to adult in the laboratory.