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A Wasp Mom’s Gift: Blankets of Bacteria

Topic
  • Microbiology
  • Bacteria
  • Pathogens & Disease
  • Anatomy & Physiology
  • Zoology
Resource Type
  • Videos
  • Animated Shorts
Level
High School — GeneralHigh School — AP/IB
Duration
00:09:10
Favorited By
3 Users
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Description

This short video explores the mechanism by which a beewolf wasp passes antibiotic-producing bacteria to its offspring.

The beewolf (Philanthus triangulum) is a digger wasp that preys on honey bees. A beewolf mother stings a honey bee and deposits an egg on the bee’s paralyzed body. When the beewolf larva hatches, it can feed on the honey bee. Scientists discovered that the beewolf’s antennae are packed with bacteria called Streptomyces, which produce a variety of antibiotic substances. The beewolf spreads the antibiotic-producing bacteria on the cocoon in which the larva develops. In this way, the larva is protected from being infected by harmful bacteria and fungi.

This video is part of the series I Contain Multitudes, hosted by science journalist Ed Yong.

Details
Key Terms

antenna, antibiotic, cocoon, digger wasp, insect, microbiome, Streptomyces, symbiosis

Primary Literature

Engl, Tobias, Johannes Kroiss, Marco Kai, Taras Y. Nechitaylo, Aleš Svatoš, and Martin Kaltenpoth. “Evolutionary stability of antibiotic protection in a defensive symbiosis.” Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences 115, 9 (2018): E2020–E2029. https://doi.org/10.1073/pnas.1719797115.

Terms of Use

Please see the Terms of Use for information on how this resource can be used.

Accessibility Level

This resource and the accompanying documents comply with accessibility standards in accordance with the final rule for Section 508 of the National Rehabilitation Act.
Version History
Date Published 12.13.17
Date Updated 12.13.17
Curriculum Connections
NGSS (2013)

HS-LS4.B

AP Biology (2019)

EVO-1, EVO-3, IST-4

IB Biology (2016)

5.2, 6.3

AP Environmental Science (2013)

II.C

Vision and Change (2009)

CC1

Materials
Transcript (PDF) 270 KB

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