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Mermithogyne
Usually characterised by shortened wings, mermithogynes are found in parts of the Formicidae, being queens affected by parasitic nematode worms of the genus ''Mermis''. See also * Mermithergate *Polymorphism (biology) In biology, polymorphism is the occurrence of two or more clearly different morphs or forms, also referred to as alternative ''phenotypes'', in the population of a species. To be classified as such, morphs must occupy the same habitat at the s ... Further reading * (1910): The effects of parasitic and other kinds of castration in insects. ''Journal of Experimental Zoology'' 8: 377–438PDF Myrmecology {{ant-stub ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Nematode
The nematodes ( or grc-gre, Νηματώδη; la, Nematoda) or roundworms constitute the phylum Nematoda (also called Nemathelminthes), with plant-Parasitism, parasitic nematodes also known as eelworms. They are a diverse animal phylum inhabiting a broad range of environments. Less formally, they are categorized as Helminths, but are taxonomically classified along with Arthropod, arthropods, Tardigrade, tardigrades and other moulting animalia, animals in the clade Ecdysozoa, and unlike platyhelminthe, flatworms, have tubular digestion, digestive systems with openings at both ends. Like tardigrades, they have a reduced number of Hox genes, but their sister phylum Nematomorpha has kept the ancestral protostome Hox genotype, which shows that the reduction has occurred within the nematode phylum. Nematode species can be difficult to distinguish from one another. Consequently, estimates of the number of nematode species described to date vary by author and may change rapidly over ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Mermis
''Mermis'' is a genus of nematodes belonging to the family Mermithidae. The genus has almost cosmopolitan distribution. Species At least 11 species currently belong to the genus: * ''Mermis athysanota'' * ''Mermis changodudus'' * ''Mermis gigantea'' * ''Mermis kenyensis'' * ''Mermis mirabilis'' * ''Mermis nigrescens'' * ''Mermis papillus'' * ''Mermis paranigrescens'' * ''Mermis quirindiensis'' * ''Mermis savaiiensis'' * ''Mermis xianensis ''Mermis'' is a genus of nematodes belonging to the family Mermithidae. The genus has almost cosmopolitan distribution. Species At least 11 species currently belong to the genus: * ''Mermis athysanota'' * ''Mermis changodudus'' * ''Mermis ...'' References {{Taxonbar, from=Q17598469 Mermithidae ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Mermithergate
A mermithergate is an ant worker that has a changed appearance as a result of an Enoplia nematode infection. Etymology The word was coined by William M. Wheeler in 1910. It is a combination of the nematode genus ''Mermis'', for which Wheeler first described the phenomenon, and ergate, which means ant worker. Infected females (queens) are called mermithogynes. Infection cycle Up to 5% of some populations of ''Cephalotes atratus'' suffer from an infection by the tetradonematid nematode ''Myrmeconema neotropicum''. It causes the ant's abdomen to turn from black to bright red, strikingly resembling a red berry. In addition, the ant then holds it up most of the time, and it is easily ripped off. Birds easily mistake these for real fruit and pick them, while they avoid eating normal ants. The nematodes pass through the bird's digestive system as eggs without harming it. The circle closes when ''C. atratus'' workers feed on the bird droppings, thus getting infected.University of Cal ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Polymorphism (biology)
In biology, polymorphism is the occurrence of two or more clearly different morphs or forms, also referred to as alternative ''phenotypes'', in the population of a species. To be classified as such, morphs must occupy the same habitat at the same time and belong to a panmictic population (one with random mating). Ford E.B. 1965. ''Genetic polymorphism''. Faber & Faber, London. Put simply, polymorphism is when there are two or more possibilities of a trait on a gene. For example, there is more than one possible trait in terms of a jaguar's skin colouring; they can be light morph or dark morph. Due to having more than one possible variation for this gene, it is termed 'polymorphism'. However, if the jaguar has only one possible trait for that gene, it would be termed "monomorphic". For example, if there was only one possible skin colour that a jaguar could have, it would be termed monomorphic. The term polyphenism can be used to clarify that the different forms arise from the s ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
