Ticks resort to nest parasitism due to the threat from predators. University of Chiba reports.
Some animal species deliberately lay eggs in other people’s nests, including the nests of other species. This is called nest parasitism, and cuckoos are the most obvious parasites of this species. Some types of ticks are particularly prone to this, but laying eggs in other people’s nests not only offers benefits for parents, but also carries risks.
Yasuyuki Cho and colleagues decided to find out what predisposes ticks to nest parasitism, where this behavior is optional. For this study, the authors Neoseiulus californicus And Gynaeseius liturivorus – two species of predatory mites that eat western flower thrips (Frankliniella west) – small flying insects, garden pests. Although thrips primarily consume plant tissue and pollen, they may also occasionally eat the eggs of these predatory mites. Thus, complex ecological relationships are established between thrips and mites. where N. californicus can lay eggs near the clutch Gynaeseius liturivorus and generally does not care about the offspring, unlike the owner.
The researchers found that the adult parasitic female prefers to lay her eggs near hosts of other species. However, this preference only manifested itself in the presence of thrips. When thrips are replaced by spider mites that do not eat eggs, N. californicus showed no inclination to lay her eggs near strangers.
Thus, discretionary nest parasitism is likely related to the threat from predators.
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