3 ms·
I was a little disappointed to see no mention of Bracovirus and Ichnovirus, two related but otherwise effectively unique genera which constitute the family Poly
by throwanem 4y ago
I was a little disappointed to see no mention of Bracovirus and Ichnovirus, two related but otherwise effectively unique genera which constitute the family Polydnaviridae and which are intimately
symbiotic with parasitoid wasps of families Braconidae and Ichneumonidae.
These viruses' genomes are actually incorporated into those of the wasps, and are thus passed on from mother to daughter. The virus doesn't circulate in the body
of the wasp; instead, female wasps' ovaries include a unique type of cell which is specialized to act as a viral replicator, generating and storing virus particles from the relevant sections of the wasp's own genome. When the mother wasp injects an egg into its caterpillar host, she secretes a dose of virus along with it. The virus serves to suppress the host's immune system and physical development, and in some cases also modifies its behavior, in order to ensure a favorable environment for the baby wasp's development.
No one, or at least no one I've yet read, knows of any other example in nature of such a close mutualism. No one knows when or how it evolved, or where Polydnaviridae fits into the larger taxonomy of viruses. It's just a shame they weren't discovered in time for Dan O'Bannon to incorporate them in the screenplay for Alien, which already takes considerable inspiration from the reproductive habit of spider wasps; it'd be a different film, and I think perhaps an even better one, for the inclusion.
- alasr 4y ago> No one, or at least no one I've yet read, knows of any other example in nature of such a close mutualism. Personally I found the relationship b/w fig trees and fig wasps quite amazing and extra-ordinary when I, for the first time, watched a documentary on this subject. You can check it out here: The Queen of Trees - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xy86ak2fQJM https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xy86ak2fQJM
- throwanem 4y agoOh, I'm well familiar, although I admit most of my fig-tree-related wasp interest has to do with larger animals such as this [1] European hornet who graciously tolerated my camera flashes for a brief while the other day. Lots of animals come late in the season for fruit still on the tree, which is both nutritious and intoxicating due to the ethanol produced by fermentation - that said, this was the first year I've met a hornet there, more usually seeing bald-faced yellowjackets [2]. (And likely the last, unfortunately, unless I'm able to form a good enough relationship with the new owners here that they'll likewise put up with my camera flashes once or twice a year.) [1] https://aaron-m.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/09/img_0826.jpg https://aaron-m.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/09/img_0826.jpg [2] https://aaron-m.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/09/img_0821.jpg https://aaron-m.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/09/img_0821.jpg