Parasitic Mites As Part-time Bodyguards Of A Host Wasp

Main Category: Biology / Biochemistry
Article Date: 04 Jul 2008 - 5:00 PDT

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Some bees and wasps that host mites have peculiar pocket-like structures called acarinaria.

These have long been considered as morphological adaptations to securely transfer beneficial mites into nests, and thus are thought to be the product of a mutualistic relationship.

However, there has been little compelling evidence to support this hypothesis.

We demonstrated that the parasitic mite Ensliniella parasitica, which uses acarinaria, increases the reproductive success of its host wasp Allodynerus delphinalis by protecting it from parasitoid wasps: an average of six mites led to a 70% chance of mortality, and ten mites led to a 100% chance of mortality.

Proceedings of the Royal Society B: Biological Sciences

Proceedings B is the Royal Society's flagship biological research journal, dedicated to the rapid publication and broad dissemination of high-quality research papers, reviews and comment and reply papers. The scope of journal is diverse and is especially strong in organismal biology.

www.publishing.royalsociety.org/proceedingsb