Tales from the crypt: a parasitoid manipulates the behaviour of its parasite host.

ABSTRACT: There are many examples of apparent manipulation of host phenotype by parasites, yet few examples of hypermanipulation-where a phenotype-manipulating parasite is itself manipulated by a parasite. Moreover, few studies confirm manipulation is occurring by quantifying whether the host's changed phenotype increases parasite fitness. Here we describe a novel case of hypermanipulation, in which the crypt gall wasp Bassettia pallida (a phenotypic manipulator of its tree host) is manipulated by the parasitoid crypt-keeper wasp Euderus set, and show that the host's changed behaviour increases parasitoid fitness. Bassettia pallida parasitizes sand live oaks and induces the formation of a 'crypt' within developing stems. When parasitized by E. set, B. pallida adults excavate an emergence hole in the

SUBMITTER: Weinersmith KL 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC5310038 | biostudies-literature | 2017 Jan

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature