Syntretus Perlmani

Parasites

Parasitoids

●These organisms live on or in a host, and benefit from the host's resources, like food and shelter.

●These organisms are usually insects that have a life cycle that's a mix between a parasite and a predator.

●Parasites can harm or infect their hosts, but they usually don't kill them.

●Examples of parasites include fleas and ticks.

●Parasitoid larvae feed on and eventually kill their hosts, which are usually other insects.

●Parasitoids often paralyze their hosts, or allow them to continue feeding or laying eggs before they die.

●Examples of parasitoids include wasps and flies.

PRACTICE QUESTION

Q.Consider the following statements regarding the “Syntretus perlmani” recently seen in the news:

1. They are the new species of Indian Frogs discovered in Western Ghats.
2. They are known to target hosts during their younger, more vulnerable larva and pupa life stages. 
3. They are categorised as parasitoids for its host killing behaviour.

How many of the above statements is/are correct?

A. Only one

B. Only two

C. All Three

D. None

Answer: B

Explanation:

Statement 1 is incorrect:

Syntretus perlmani is a new wasp species discovered in the US which bursts from living flies.

Statement 2 is correct:

• The Syntretus perlmani is the first wasp found to infect adult fruit flies.
• They are known to target flies during their younger, more vulnerable larva and pupa life stages. 
• Female S. perlmani use their needle-like ovipositor organ — the stinger in stinging wasps — to stab and deposit an egg within a fruit fly's abdomen.
• The egg then hatches into a tiny wasp larva, which grows inside the fly for about 18 days before leaving its host for dead.
• Eventually they burst out of the body of the hosts.

Statement 3 is correct:

These new species have been categorised as parasitoids rather than parasites as they always kill their hosts unlike the parasites, which generally leave hosts alive.