Wild bumblebees infected by an enteral leech are draw toturtlehead flower , the ambrosia and pollen of which seem to bid a medicative effect , fit in to finding to be published inEcology .
These intestinal sponger can affect bumblebee survival of the fittest and replication , if leave alone . However , recent work expose that parasitizedbumblebees self - medicate using nectar intertwine with nicotine , which trim the number of parasites in the infected bees . But is it in reality happening in the natural state ?
To investigate , University of Vermont’sLeif Richardsonand colleagues study the upshot a mathematical group of floral nectar compound has on both bumblebee foraging and flora reproduction . call iridoid glycoside , these chemical substance are known as plant secondary metabolite – they might help with development but they ’re not decisive for natural selection . Iridoid glycosides are used to deter industrial plant - eater like cervid , and they have the added benefit of reducing the parasite load of parasitized bees . The team focused on two iridoid glycoside compound – aucubin and catalpol – in the ambrosia and pollen from four populations of a wetland works called shell-flower . bee aid pollinate turtlehead throughout eastern North America . The squad manipulated the concentration of those chemicals in the blossom to investigate their issue on bee behavior .
" We show that bees might be capable to self - medicate , altering their foraging behavior when parasitized so as to maximise their consumption of good plant subaltern metabolite compound , ” subject field authorRebecca Irwinfrom North Carolina State University say in astatement . Compared to healthy bee , those that are infected with the intestinal parasite preferred inspect flower with the mellow iridoid glycoside concentrations .
moreover , the squad also ascertain that nectar chemical science bear upon plant reproductive success too . flower with the highest concentrations of iridoid glycosides in their nectar contributed much more pollen to other flower after visit from bees . “ Secondary metabolites , ” Richardson adds , “ could influence plant reproduction via complex suite of interactions involving not only pollinators but also their lifelike enemies . "
We also just larn thatants infected by fungal pathogensare have it away to self - medicine too .
