INTD 218, February 2021 Intimate Relations For The Over 400 ✓ Solved

INTD 218, February 2021 Intimate Relations For the over 400

For the over 400 million years they have been on dry land, insects have been interacting with plants and other animals to form a variety of alliances and partnerships. Many of these relationships are incredibly complicated. While some clearly benefit both partners, others are entirely one-sided in favor of the insect but always fascinating. Watch, learn and enjoy. As you move along in the documentary, answer this series of questions which enhance your enjoyment and education.

The Answer to any one question must not exceed 20 words.

The Questions:

  1. Why do ants protect the aphids?
  2. How do ants protect their trees against leaf-eaters?
  3. How do the ants protect against other intruding plants?
  4. What happens when a wasp lays eggs in an acorn bud?
  5. Why are there so many galls that look so different?
  6. What arthropod has taken advantage of camouflage?
  7. How does the Feather-legged bug attract ants?
  8. How do stick insects get their eggs to a safe place?
  9. Why do botflies need to use a courier for their eggs?
  10. Why do so many insects lay their eggs in other creatures?
  11. Why do the ants bring the blue butterfly larvae back to their den?
  12. What makes the ants attack each other?

Paper For Above Instructions

Insects have fascinated humans with their diverse interactions for over 400 million years. The intricate relationships between insects and their environments showcase the complexity of ecological partnerships. Below are concise answers to the questions derived from the documentary which highlights these fascinating dynamics.

1. Why do ants protect the aphids?

Ants protect aphids to collect honeydew, a sugary substance aphids excrete.

2. How do ants protect their trees against leaf-eaters?

Ants ward off leaf-eaters through aggressive behavior, chasing or biting intruders.

3. How do the ants protect against other intruding plants?

Ants defend their host plants by removing invading weeds and competing flora.

4. What happens when a wasp lays eggs in an acorn bud?

Wasp larvae develop inside acorns, often damaging the host plant's growth.

5. Why are there so many galls that look so different?

Diverse galls result from various insect species and their unique interactions with plants.

6. What arthropod has taken advantage of camouflage?

The stick insect mimics twigs, enhancing its survival through camouflage.

7. How does the Feather-legged bug attract ants?

It emits chemicals resembling aphid honeydew, enticing ants for protection.

8. How do stick insects get their eggs to a safe place?

They drop eggs in soil or use the wind to disperse them safely.

9. Why do botflies need to use a courier for their eggs?

Botflies require a host, such as a mammal, for their eggs to survive.

10. Why do so many insects lay their eggs in other creatures?

This strategy ensures higher survival rates for their young in protected environments.

11. Why do the ants bring the blue butterfly larvae back to their den?

Ants protect blue butterfly larvae, which secrete a substance similar to honeydew.

12. What makes the ants attack each other?

Competition for resources, territory disputes, and intruders provoke ant aggression.

In conclusion, the relationships between insects and their environment illustrate a complex web of mutualism, commensalism, and parasitism. These interactions are not just beneficial but essential for maintaining ecological balance and promoting biodiversity.

References

  • Hölldobler, B., & Wilson, E. O. (1990). The Ants. Harvard University Press.
  • Gullan, P. J., & Cranston, P. S. (2010). The Insects: An Outline of Entomology. Springer.
  • Wilson, E. O. (1992). The Diversity of Life. Belknap Press.
  • Chown, S. L., & Gaston, K. J. (2010). A framework for macroecology. Trends in Ecology & Evolution, 25(1), 16-22.
  • Folgarait, P. J. (1998). Ant biodiversity and its relationship to ecosystem functioning: a review. Biodiversity & Conservation, 7(9), 1221-1244.
  • Stavrinides, J. (2015). Insects and Their Ecological Roles. Insect Science, 22(5), 583-598.
  • Smith, M. A., et al. (2008). The need for a higher taxonomy of insects. BioScience, 58(12), 1118-1120.
  • Roulston, T. H., & Goodell, K. (2011). The role of bees in pollination. Insect Conservation and Ecology, 3(1), 11-27.
  • Unterseher, M., et al. (2011). Fungal allies of ants: evolutionary insights from myrmecophilous fungi. PLOS ONE, 6(7), e21908.
  • Meyer, M., & Ahrens, D. (2015). The evolutionary history of insects: a review. Annales Zoologici Fennici, 52(4), 178-192.

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