phoresy
phoresy A method of dispersal in which an animal attaches itself to an animal of another species in order to be transported to a new site, where it releases itself, with little or no harm to the carrier. This method is adopted by various animals searching for new food sources, or by parasites when seeking a new host. For example, when their host dies, certain bird lice may attach themselves to blood-sucking flies in their effort to find a new avian host, and some insect parasitoids, which lay their eggs inside the eggs of other insects, attach themselves to adults of the host species to ensure immediate access to the eggs when the adult host lays them. Eggs may also be transferred in this manner. The Neotropical human bot fly, Dermatobia hominis, `captures' a suitable carrier, such as a blood-sucking mosquito, to which it attaches 30 or so of its eggs. When the carrier insect reaches a human or bovine host, the bot fly eggs quickly hatch and the larvae release themselves from the carrier and invade the hair follicles of their host, where they develop.
phoresy
phoresy A method of dispersal in which an animal clings to the body of a much larger animal of another species and is carried some distance before releasing its grip and falling.
More From encyclopedia.com
Parasitism , Parasitism describes a relationship between two species, a parasite and its host, in which the parasite benefits, while the host is harmed. Parasitis… Viviparity , viviparous •Arras, embarrass, harass •gynandrous, polyandrous •Pancras • charas • Tatras • disastrous •ferrous • leprous • ambidextrous •Carreras, ma… Tapeworms , The class Cestoda consists of long, flat, ribbonlike worms that are commonly called tapeworms. Tapeworms are obligatory parasites , ones that cannot… Parasitoid , parasitoid An animal that lives in or on another animal (the host), which it consumes and eventually kills. Hence parasitoids may be regarded as inte… Flies , Skip to main content
Flies
Flies
Flies belong to the order Diptera, a group that also includes mosquitoes, gnats, and midges. Flies make up the fourt… Reproduction , An essential attribute of any species or population is the ability to produce a succeeding generation. As the first vertebrates to set foot on land,…
About this article
phoresy
All Sources -
You Might Also Like
NEARBY TERMS
phoresy