Braconid wasps are TINY. They lay their eggs in Tomato Horn Worms. The eggs hatch and the larvae feast on the worm’s insides, saving the vitals for last. They then pupate on the outside of the worm, like in photos 2 and 3.
1.
2. www.helpfulgardener.com/phpBB2/viewtopic.php?p=159470&sid=9c9a8c94d5de449c9b18c1db60bbc89d
3. www.helpfulgardener.com/phpBB2/viewtopic.php?p=94346#94346
“Damn nature, you gross!”
/purposeful mis-quote
That would be parasitism. Symbiosis implies a mutually beneficial relationship.
Parasitic symbiosis. Look it up. 3 types of symbiosis…thats one of them. You are speaking of what is called, aptly, “mutualistic symbiosis”. See how they each describe the different type of symbiosis that they are?
Enjoy your lesson:
www.marietta.edu/~biol/biomes/symbiosis.htm
Parasitism is a type of symbiotic relationship between organisms of different species where one organism, the parasite, benefits at the expense of the other, the host. Traditionally parasite referred to organisms with lifestages that went beyond one host (e.g. Taenia solium), which are now called macroparasites (typically protozoa and helminths). Parasites can now also refer to microparasites, which are typically smaller, such as viruses and bacteria and can be directly transmitted between hosts of one species[citation needed].
Well aren’t you a clever little pedant. Meanwhile, to the lay population (that would be the 99% of the world that actually has friends and gets laid):
parasite = harms the host
symbiote = doesn’t harm/helps the host
Fret not. You are indeed technically right. Hope it keeps you warm at night.
Your mom keeps me warm at night.
Oh, and forgive me for having paid attention in school that day.