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Updated: May 12, 2026

An Introduction to Parasitic Wasps of Drosophila and the Antiparasite Immune Response
Published on: May 7, 2012
Parasitoid secretions provoke ant warfare
J A Thomas1, J J Knapp, T Akino
1Centre of Ecology and Hydrology (NERC), Winfrith Technology Centre, Dorchester, Dorset DT2 8ZD, UK. jat@ceh.ac.uk
Abstract:
Insect social parasites are extreme specialists that typically use mimicry or stealth to enter ant colonies to exploit the rich, but fiercely protected, resources within their nests. Here we show how a parasitic wasp (parasitoid) contrives to reach its host, itself an endangered species of social parasite that lives inside the brood chambers of ant nests, by releasing semiochemicals to induce in-fighting between worker ants, locking the colony in combat and leaving it underprotected. Four of these chemicals are new to biology and have the potential to control pest species by inducing different agonistic behaviours in ants.
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