Article
Host propagation permits extreme local adaptation in a social parasite of ants.
Ecology letters - 1 Sept 2006
Schönrogge K, Gardner M G, Elmes G W, Napper E K V, Simcox D J, Wardlaw J C, Breen J, Barr B, Knapp J J, Pickett J A, Thomas J A
Abstract excerpt
The Red Data Book hoverfly species Microdon mutabilis is an extreme specialist that parasitises ant societies. The flies are locally adapted to a single host, Formica lemani, more intimately than was thought possible in host-parasite systems. Microdon egg survival plummeted in F. lemani colonies > 3 km away from the natal nest, from c. 96% to 0% to < 50%, depending on the hoverfly population. This is reflected in...
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