Inquilines and Cleptoparasites

Inquilines are arthropods that live in structures created by other arthropods, such as galls, burrows or nests. Generally, they are considered to do so without interfering in an important way with their hosts, or they may scavenge for a living without significantly harming their hosts. In some cases, especially in the case of social insects, inquilines may be parasitic and consume their host’s food resources. When insects steal food and pillage nests of other species they are usually called cleptoparasites. Social insects such as ants and termites typically have many inquiline inhabitants of their nests, but it is not always apparent whether or not the inquilines are cleptoparasites. Many inquilines (particularly ants) are very closely related to their host organism.

Scarab beetles are known for rolling balls of dung, which they bury deep underground in burrows, and which serve as a food resource for their immatures (grubs). When they roll their dung balls, small flies (various...