螨蟲通常被認(rèn)為是一種骯臟的寄生蟲,，然而它們中的一些實(shí)際上正在扮演著清潔工的角色,。
圖片左邊為汗蜂，右邊為蜜蜂螨
據(jù)美國《科學(xué)》雜志在線新聞報(bào)道,，德克薩斯大學(xué)的研究人員發(fā)現(xiàn),，蜜蜂螨（Laelaspoides，如上圖）能夠幫助汗蜂（Megalopta）清除巢中的真菌,，作為回報(bào),，前者可以一直安全地住在蜂巢中，甚至被后者帶到它們的新家,。如果將螨蟲拿走,，則蜂巢中的真菌會感染并殺死大多數(shù)幼蜂。然而螨蟲如何消滅真菌卻依然是個謎——它們或許分泌有毒的化學(xué)物質(zhì),，或許能夠?qū)⒄婢缘?。研究人員在《美國博物學(xué)家》雜志網(wǎng)絡(luò)版上報(bào)告了這一發(fā)現(xiàn)。（生物谷Bioon.com）
生物谷推薦原始出處：
The American Naturalist,，Natalia B. Biani ,，William T. Wcislo
Cleaner mites: sanitary mutualism in the miniature ecosystem of neotropical bee nests
Natalia B. Biani (University of Texas at Austin), Ulrich G. Mueller (University of Texas at Austin), and William T. Wcislo (Smithsonian Tropical Research Institute)
Contrary to popular belief that mites are nasty parasites, there are some mites that are actually beneficial and help bees clean their nest of microorganisms. Scientists at the University of Texas at Austin and at the Smithsonian Tropical Research Institute tested this idea in Panama. They studied the partnership between Megalopta bees and their mite associates. These bees nest in dead branches and each nest is a miniature ecosystem that is not only inhabited by the bees and their brood, but also by an extensive array of organisms, such as tiny flies, spiders, velvet ants, fungi, round worms, and of course, mites. Biani and colleagues discovered through a series of natural observations and bee-rearing experiments in the lab that there is much less fungi growing when mites are present in the nests, and also that bees are able to survive better than without mites. What do the mites get in exchange for this cleaning service? "A good, safe place to live and free rides on the back of the bees to new nests," says Biani.
Cleaning mutualisms have been known from coral reefs where small fish and shrimps get their food by removing parasites of bigger fish's gills and mouth. This study soon to be published in The American Naturalist constitutes one of the few examples of terrestrial cleaning mutualisms. It shows how some animals join forces with other species in order to protect their brood and their food from potential pathogens.
