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Updated: Jul 5, 2026
13:04
An Introduction to Parasitic Wasps of Drosophila and the Antiparasite Immune Response
Published on: May 7, 2012
Non-sibling parasites (Strepsiptera) develop together in the same paper wasp.
L Vannini1, A Carapelli, F Frati
1Department of Evolutionary Biology, University of Siena, via A. Moro 2, 53100 Siena, Italy. vannini18@unisi.it
Parasitology
|May 27, 2008
Summary
Non-sibling parasitic wasps, Xenos vesparum, can infect the same host larva, Polistes dominulus. This study reveals the first case of superparasitism with unrelated parasites in a single hymenopteran host.
Area of Science:
- Insect biology
- Parasitology
- Evolutionary ecology
Background:
- Host discrimination by immature parasites is crucial for resource monopolization.
- Superparasitism, where multiple parasites infect a single host, can lead to conspecific conflict.
- Xenos vesparum (Strepsiptera) larvae can co-infect Polistes dominulus (Hymenoptera) larvae.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate if non-sibling Xenos vesparum infect the same Polistes dominulus host.
- To screen mitochondrial haplotypes of X. vesparum from superparasitized wasps.
- To understand the genetic diversity and infection patterns of X. vesparum.
Main Methods:
- Collected superparasitized Polistes dominulus wasps from 5 nests in Tuscany, Italy.
- Extracted and genotyped mitochondrial haplotypes from 122 Xenos vesparum individuals.
- Analyzed haplotype distribution within hosts and nests.
Main Results:
- Identified 12 distinct haplotypes among 122 X. vesparum individuals.
- Found that 17 out of 34 superparasitized wasps hosted parasites with differing haplotypes.
- Observed a male-biased sex ratio and synchronous parasite development in heavily infected colonies.
Conclusions:
- This is the first documented instance of superparasitism involving non-sibling X. vesparum infecting a single hymenopteran host.
- Haplotype distribution suggests infection may occur via phoresy or larviposition by infected wasps.
- Findings shed light on complex parasite-host interactions and infection strategies.
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