Stinkbug Leg Organ Hosts Symbiotic Fungi That Protect Eggs from Parasites
By
gmays
A bagel you'd recommend to a friend without hedging.
Summary
Researchers have discovered that what was previously thought to be a tympanal organ (sound-detecting structure) in female dinidorid stinkbugs is actually a specialized fungal nursery. The Japanese species Megymenum gracilicorne hosts symbiotic fungi within its hindlegs that protect its eggs from parasitic organisms, challenging long-standing assumptions about insect anatomy and revealing a novel form of insect-fungal symbiosis.
Key quotes
· 4 pulledIn an astonishing discovery that redefines our understanding of insect anatomy and symbiosis
researchers have uncovered a unique fungal nursery hidden within the hindlegs of female dinidorid stinkbugs
challenging the long-held assumption that these structures served as auditory organs
pioneering investigations into the Japanese species Megymenum gracilicorne reveal this
You might also wanna read
New Australian Bee Species Discovered with Horn-Like Facial Projections
Australian researchers have discovered a new species of native bee with distinctive horn-like projections on the female's face, earning it t
The Onion·6mo ago
Iberian Harvester Ant Queens Produce Offspring of Two Different Species Through Cloning Mechanism
Iberian harvester ant queens (Messor ibericus) have been discovered to produce offspring of both their own species and the builder harvester
smithsonianmag.com·8mo ago
European Ant Species Found Cloning Males of Different Ant Species in Biological Breakthrough
A groundbreaking discovery reveals that Iberian harvester ant queens in southern Europe can produce male clones of an entirely different ant
livescience.com·8mo ago
Study suggests homing pigeons may navigate using iron-laden liver immune cells as a magnetic compass
Researchers at the Max Planck Institute of Animal Behavior tested whether homing pigeons use iron-laden immune cells in their livers as a ma
sciencenews.org·16h ago
Lynn Margulis's endosymbiotic theory: The paper rejected by 15 journals that revolutionized biology
The article tells the story of Lynn Margulis, a young biologist whose groundbreaking 1967 paper on endosymbiotic theory — proposing that com
spacedaily.com·17h ago
Newly discovered fungus could help control invasive moss threatening UK habitats
A newly discovered killer fungus species shows promise for controlling the invasive heath-star moss that threatens UK native habitats like t
bbc.co.uk·1d ago