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Parental care influences social immunity in burying beetle larvae
Author(s) -
REAVEY CATHERINE E.,
BEARE LAURA,
COTTER SHEENA C.
Publication year - 2014
Publication title -
ecological entomology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.865
H-Index - 81
eISSN - 1365-2311
pISSN - 0307-6946
DOI - 10.1111/een.12099
Subject(s) - biology , carrion , offspring , lytic cycle , larva , brood , paternal care , zoology , ecology , immunology , genetics , pregnancy , virus
In this study, evidence is provided of social immunity in the offspring of a sub‐social species, the burying beetle, Nicrophorus vespilloides . Nicrophorus vespilloides is a carrion breeder and, in a similar fashion to the adult beetles, the offspring produce exudates that exhibit lytic activity, which are used to coat the breeding resource. This strategy defends against the microbial community. The lytic activity in larval exudates declines as the brood develops, perhaps being most beneficial at the start of the breeding bout. Changing levels of parental care through widowing/orphaning affects lytic activity in the larval exudates, with levels decreasing in the absence of both parents.