Trophic egg provisioning in a passalid beetle (Coleoptera)

摘要: Trophic eggs, which are not viable and eaten by larvae, produced the passalid beetle Cylindrocaulus patalis. This is first record of trophic eggs in subsocial Coleoptera. There differences morphology fertile eggs; former a paler colour softer than latter. The surface chorion also smoother that eggs. fed directly female parent to 3rd instar larvae following series specific behavioural interactions between them, including repeated stridulation larva. It likely supplement protein-poor diet contribute their growth survival. production may be associated with evolution an extremely small clutch size C.