I Contain Multitudes: A Wasp Mom's Gift--Blankets of Bacteria

Micros images of an insect.

The beewolf is a digger wasp that preys on honey bees. A beewolf mother stings a honey bee and deposits an egg on the bee’s paralyzed body. When the beewolf larva hatches, it can feed on the honey bee. Scientists discovered that the beewolf’s antennae are packed with bacteria called Streptomyces, which produce a variety of antibiotic substances. The beewolf spreads the antibiotic-producing bacteria on the cocoon in which the larva develops. In this way, the larva is protected from being infected by harmful bacteria and fungi. Part of the "I Contain Multitudes" series.

(Source: DCMP)

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  • I Contain Multitudes: A Wasp Mom's Gift--Blankets of Bacteria

    Type:
    Video
    Format:
    Streaming
    Accommodations:
    English Audio Descriptions - Visual, English Captions - Auditory
    Languages:
    English
    License:
    DCMP Membership
    Author:
    Tangled Bank Studios
    Length:
    9 minutes