Free Access
| Issue |
Apidologie
Volume 26, Number 3, 1995
Non-Apis bees
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|---|---|---|
| Page(s) | 255 - 271 | |
| DOI | https://doi.org/10.1051/apido:19950307 | |
Apidologie 26 (1995) 255-271
DOI: 10.1051/apido:19950307
ETH Zürich, Experimental Ecology, ETH-Zentrum, NW, CH-8092 Zürich, Switzerland
Key words: social insects / parasite / polyandry / social organisation / epidemiology
DOI: 10.1051/apido:19950307
Parasites and social insects
P. Schmid-HempelETH Zürich, Experimental Ecology, ETH-Zentrum, NW, CH-8092 Zürich, Switzerland
Abstract - A short review shows that social insects have many parasites on larvae and adults but few on eggs. Social organisation simultaneously affects parasite transmission within and between colonies. Overall, the biology of social insects may be favourable to an epidemic, but such a process may quickly die out in the host population.
Key words: social insects / parasite / polyandry / social organisation / epidemiology