What specific target does the larva of Aleochara bilineata utilize for overwintering?
Answer
Parasitizing maggot puparia
The life cycle complexity within the Staphylinidae family dictates different survival strategies based on the species. For Aleochara bilineata, the successful continuation of the lineage is highly dependent on a specific host relationship during the overwintering phase. Unlike the adults, whose diet may be broad (eating aphids or mites), the larvae specifically develop by parasitizing maggot puparia. This specialized requirement means that even if the adult beetles are present feeding on general garden pests, the reproductive success of this particular species hinges on the availability of its dedicated host pest in the soil for larval development and overwintering.
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