Superparasitism

Superparasitism is a form of parasitism in which the host (typically an insect larva such as a caterpillar) is attacked more than once by a single species of parasitoid. Multiparasitism or coinfection, on the other hand, occurs when the host has been parasitized by more than one species.[1] Host discrimination, whereby parasitoids can identify a host with parasites from an unparasitized host, is present in certain species of parasitoids and is used to avoid superparasitism and thus competition from other parasites.[2] Superparasitism can result in transmission of viruses, and viruses may influence a parasitoid's behavior in favor of infecting already infected hosts, as is the case with Leptopilina boulardi. [3]

Examples

One example of superparasitism is seen in Rhagoletis juglandis, also known as the walnut husk fly. During oviposition, female flies lacerate the tissue of the inner husk of the walnut and creative a cavity for her eggs. The female flies oviposit and reinfest the same walnuts and even the same oviposition sites created by conspecifics.[4]

References
  1. R. C. Fisher (1 June 1961). "A Study in Insect Multiparasitism: I. Host Selection and Oviposition" (PDF). Journal of Experimental Biology. 38 (2): 267–275.
  2. Bakker, K.; van Alphen, J. J. M.; van Batenburg, F. H. D.; van der Hoeven, N.; Nell, H. W.; van Strien-van Liempt, W. T. F. H.; Turlings, T. C. J. (1985-12-01). "The function of host discrimination and superparasitization in parasitoids". Oecologia. 67 (4): 572–576. Bibcode:1985Oecol..67..572B. doi:10.1007/BF00790029. ISSN 1432-1939. PMID 28311043.
  3. Reynolds, K Tracy; Hardy, Ian (July 2004). "Superparasitism: a non-adaptive strategy?". Trends in Ecology & Evolution. 19 (7). Retrieved 21 January 2021.
  4. Boyce, A.M. (December 1929). "The Walnut Husk Fly (Rhagoletis juglandis Cresson)". Journal of Economic Entomology. 22: 861–866.


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