Spider manipulation by a wasp larva

[Rcjohnsen]

20 July 2000=20
Nature 406, 255 - 256 (2000) =A9 Macmillan Publishers Ltd.=20
Spider manipulation by a wasp larva
WILLIAM=A0G.=A0EBERHARD
On the evening that it will kill its orb-weaving spider host, the larva of =
the
ichneumonid wasp Hymenoepimecis sp. induces the spider to build an otherwis=
e
unique 'cocoon web' to serve as a durable support for the wasp larva's coco=
on.
The construction of this cocoon web is highly stereotyped, consisting of ma=
ny
repetitions that are almost identical to the early stages of one subroutine=
of
normal orb weaving, the other components of which are repressed. Here I
investigate this activity and show that the mechanism employed by the larva=
to
manipulate the spider's behaviour is fast-acting, apparently chemical, and =
has
long-term effects.

Nature =A9 Macmillan Publishers Ltd 2000 Registered No. 785998 England. =
=20

Although this is an example of parasitism. I though this might be interest=
ing
to this NG. There is also an article on Parasitism in Aug. Discover magazi=
ne
with refs. to original articles.
Roger

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