''Attaphila'' is a genus of

cockroach Cockroaches (or roaches) are insects belonging to the Order (biology), order Blattodea (Blattaria). About 30 cockroach species out of 4,600 are associated with human habitats. Some species are well-known Pest (organism), pests. Modern cockro ...

es that live as myrmecophiles in the nests of leaf-cutting ants. They have been suggested to feed on the

fungus A fungus (: fungi , , , or ; or funguses) is any member of the group of eukaryotic organisms that includes microorganisms such as yeasts and mold (fungus), molds, as well as the more familiar mushrooms. These organisms are classified as one ...

their host ants farm, or on the cuticular

lipid Lipids are a broad group of organic compounds which include fats, waxes, sterols, fat-soluble vitamins (such as vitamins A, D, E and K), monoglycerides, diglycerides, phospholipids, and others. The functions of lipids include storing ...

s of ant workers. ''Attaphila'' are not attacked by host workers because they blend into the colony by mimicking the odour of their hosts ants. Female ''Attaphila'' are wingless and males have reduced wings. The cockroaches are

phoretic Phoresis or phoresy is a temporary Commensalism, commensalistic relationship when an organism (a phoront or phoretic) attaches itself to a host organism solely for travel. It has been seen in tick, ticks and mite, mites since the 18th century, ...

and can disperse to new host colonies by riding on virgin host

queens Queens is the largest by area of the Boroughs of New York City, five boroughs of New York City, coextensive with Queens County, in the U.S. state of New York (state), New York. Located near the western end of Long Island, it is bordered by the ...

(female alates) departing on their mating flight and by hitchhiking on leaves carried by leaf-cutter ant foragers returning to their nests, or by following leaf-cutter ant

pheromone trail Trail pheromones are semiochemicals secreted from the body of an individual to affect the behavior of another individual receiving it. Trail pheromones often serve as a multi purpose chemical secretion that leads members of its own species towards a ...

s Six species of ''Attaphila'' have been described: * ''

Attaphila fungicola ''Attaphila'' is a genus of cockroaches that live as myrmecophiles in the nests of leaf-cutting ants. They have been suggested to feed on the fungus their host ants farm, or on the cuticular lipids of ant workers. ''Attaphila'' are not attacke ...

'' Wheeler, 1900 * '' Attaphila bergi'' Bolívar, 1901 * '' Attaphila aptera'' Bolivar, 1905 * '' Attaphila schuppi'' Bolivar, 1905 * '' Attaphila sexdentis'' Bolivar, 1905 * '' Attaphila flava'' Gurney, 1937

References

{{DEFAULTSORT:Attaphila Cockroach genera Myrmecology