Cycloalexy

Cycloalexy is a form of gregarism, and involves group reactions. The name is derived from the Greek “kuklos” = circle and “alexo” = I defend, I protect. It is the attitude adopted at rest by some insect larvae, both diurnal and nocturnal, in a tight circle when either the heads or ends of the abdomen are juxtaposed at the periphery, with the remaining larvae at the center of the circle. It can also be named the ring defense behavior. Coordinated movements such as the adoption of threatening attitudes, regurgitation, reflex bleeding and biting are used to repel predators or parasitoids. If for any reason, the circle is broken, ants or pentatomids can easily catch some larvae. The system is more efficient against predators than against parasitoids that have all found a way to turn the defense. Cycloalexy has analogy in vertebrates, penguins and muskoxen, for instance, living in familial groups and sometimes adopting a circular formation of males protecting the young and females from...