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Strepsiptera |
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Strepsiptera are one of the holometabolous insect orders. In the light of the latest studies, they appear to be closely related to the Coleoptera. Strepsiptera are obligatory parasites of seven other insect orders (Thysanura, Blattodea, Mantodea, Orthoptera, Hemiptera, Diptera, and Hymenoptera). They have many unusual and unique autapomorphies often related to the parasitic way of life. The adaptations appear either on morphological level by reductions in adult females and development of new structures in immature stages and adult males, or on manipulations of the host behaviour, probably used for strepsipteran benefit. Xenos vesparum in Polistes abdomenFurthermore, at least some species have developed unique mode of defence against the host’s immune response. |
Last Updated on Monday, 23 January 2012 13:40 |