Parasites of insects have evolved several ways, mainly biochemical mechanisms, to prevent their hosts from encapsulating them.
It was also recently discovered that certain parasitic wasps that live in the body cavity of an insect as larvae have enlisted an outside agent, a virus, to do this job for them.
This virus, specifically known as a polydnavirus, suppresses the host’s immune system (the system that triggers encapsulation) in a way that has yet to be discovered.
The egg that the mother of the parasite injects into the host insect is coated with a fluid that contains the polydnaviruses that will make the survival of her offspring possible.
The egg is bathed in this fluid as it passes through its mother’s reproductive tract.
Related Posts
-
Why does the Oxpecker Bird Ride on the Backs of Rhinos and Hippos and Are They Parasites?
The oxpeckers are two species of bird from the Buphagidae family which live in the savanna of Sub-Saharan Africa. Their names come from their habit of perching on large mammals such as cattle…
-
How Many Different Species of Bacteria, Parasites, and Microorganisms Live In or On the Human Body?
The microorganisms that inhabit the body of a healthy human being are known as the normal microbial fauna and they come in two different types, those that are permanently resident and those that…
-
How Do Insects See Colors and Can Insects Smell and Hear Sounds Like People Do?
Insects definitely see colors, smell and sometimes hear, but not the way people do. Our eyes see a we range of wavelengths, but many insects have vision tuned into a specific range to…
-
Why Do Insects Turn Over On Their Backs When They Die and How Do Insects Fake Death?
Some insects roll over on their backs when they die, some don't, and some may not be dead at all. Collectors usually do not find many dead insects in the field, because they…
-
Do Insects Have Muscles and How Do Insects Use Their Muscles To Control Their Wings?
Insects have muscles and they are extremely strong. An insect can lift twenty or more times its body weight, while most people can lift their own weight or a little more. Insects have…
-
Why Do Our Palms Get Sweaty When We Are Nervous and How Do You Prevent it?
If your palms sweat when you're nervous, you can blame evolution. The inside of your hands have more sweat glands than any other part of your body. This is because tens of thousands…
