Evidence for a chemical arms race between cuckoo wasps of the genus Hedychrum and their distantly related host apoid wasps.
BMC Ecol Evol
; 22(1): 138, 2022 11 28.
Article
em En
| MEDLINE
| ID: mdl-36443667
ABSTRACT
BACKGROUND:
Brood parasites can exert strong selection pressure on their hosts. Many brood parasites escape their detection by mimicking sensory cues of their hosts. However, there is little evidence whether or not the hosts are able to escape the parasites' mimicry by changing these cues. We addressed this question by analyzing cuticular hydrocarbon (CHC) profiles of Cerceris and Philanthus wasps and their brood parasites, cuckoo wasps mimicking the CHC profiles of their hosts. Some of these hosts use hydrocarbons to preserve their prey against fungal infestation and thus, they cannot significantly change their CHC composition in response to chemical mimicry by Hedychrum brood parasites.RESULTS:
We found that the CHC overlap between brood parasites and their hosts was lower in case of host wasps not preserving their prey than in case of prey-preserving host wasps, whose CHC evolution is constrained. Furthermore, the CHC profiles in non-preserving host wasps is more strongly diversified in females than in males, thus in the sex that is chemically mimicked by brood parasites.CONCLUSION:
Our results provide evidence for a chemical arms race between those hosts that are liberated from stabilizing selection on their chemical template and their parasites.Palavras-chave
Texto completo:
1
Coleções:
01-internacional
Base de dados:
MEDLINE
Assunto principal:
Vespas
/
Rabdomiossarcoma Alveolar
Limite:
Animals
Idioma:
En
Revista:
BMC Ecol Evol
Ano de publicação:
2022
Tipo de documento:
Article
País de afiliação:
Alemanha