Relationships of Predaceous Beetles to Tropical Forest Wood Decay. Part II. The Natural History of Neotropical Eurycoleus macularis Chevrolat (Carabidae: Lebiini) and Its Implications in the Evolution of Ectoparasitoidism

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Abstract
The natural history and behavior of Eurycoleus macularis Chevrolat (Carabidae: Lebiini) are recorded for the first time. The role of this predaceous carabid beetle is tropical forest wood decay is discussed in detail. Predatory roles of other wood-associated carabid beetles are also discussed. A mimetic complex of beetles involving both larval and adult stages is shown to involve Eurycoleus macularis. A hypothesis is offered to explain how carabid beetles evolved ectoparasitoidism with the life cycle of Eurycoleus macularis representing an intermediate stage between free-living larvae and true ectoparasitoidism as found in Brachinus (bombardier beetles) and Lebia (colorful arboreal beetles). Immature stages of certain species of Amphix (Endomychidae) are shown to be the only food of Eurycoleus macularis. Erotylidae (Priotelus sp., ?Homoeotelus sp.) and Tenebrionidae (Poecilesthus sp.) are involved in the mimetic complex with Eurycoleus.

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