Mutualism: wasp keeps watchdogs to protect young.
The adaptive value of acarinaria - specialized structures in some wasps and bees that harbour symbiotic mites - has long been elusive. A new study has now shown that the mites are actually beneficial to their host by actively defending it against parasitoids.
Kronauer
Daniel J C
DJ
Département d'Ecologie et Evolution, Université de Lausanne, Quartier UNIL-Sorge, Bâtiment Biophore, 1015 Lausanne, Switzerland. djckronauer@bio.ku.dk
D000818:Animals; D001516:Bees / Q000469:parasitology / Q000502:physiology*; D008925:Mites / Q000472:pathogenicity / Q000502:physiology; D012919:Social Behavior; D013559:Symbiosis / Q000502:physiology*; D014863:Wasps / Q000469:parasitology / Q000502:physiology*