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Q18 (IAS/2024) Environment & Ecology › Ecology & Ecosystem Basics › Species interactions Official Key

Consider the following : 1. Carabid beetles 2. Centipedes 3. Flies 4. Termites 5. Wasps Parasitoid species are found in how many of the above kind of organisms ?

Result
Your answer: —  ·  Correct: B
Explanation

The correct answer is option B (Only three).

Several genera of carabid beetles are ectoparasitoids as larvae[1], confirming parasitoid species exist in carabid beetles. At least 21 families of Diptera and 11 families of Coleoptera contain species with parasitoid lifestyles[2], which establishes that flies (Diptera) include parasitoid species. Within the Hymenoptera, parasitoidism evolved just once, and the many described species of parasitoid wasps represent the great majority of species in the order[3], confirming wasps are parasitoids.

The sources provide no evidence of parasitoid species in centipedes or termites. Centipedes are predatory arthropods themselves, and termites are social insects that are typically hosts rather than parasitoids. Therefore, among the five organisms listed, only three (carabid beetles, flies, and wasps) contain parasitoid species.

Sources
  1. [1] https://www.ars.usda.gov/ARSUserFiles/30842/Weber2008-Encyc-Carabid%20Beetles%20as%20Parasitoids.pdf
  2. [2] https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S2214574516300049
  3. [3] https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Parasitoid
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Q. Consider the following : 1. Carabid beetles 2. Centipedes 3. Flies 4. Termites 5. Wasps Parasitoid species are found in how many of…
At a glance
Origin: Mostly Current Affairs Fairness: Low / Borderline fairness Books / CA: 0/10 · 6/10
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This is a 'Science-Natural History' bouncer that exposes the limits of standard textbooks. While books define 'Parasitoidism' using Wasps as the sole example, UPSC demands you know that this is a functional 'life strategy' adopted by other insect orders (Flies, Beetles) but NOT by detritivores (Termites) or generalist predators (Centipedes).

How this question is built

This question can be broken into the following sub-statements. Tap a statement sentence to jump into its detailed analysis.

Statement 1
Do parasitoid species occur in carabid beetles (family Carabidae)?
Origin: Web / Current Affairs Fairness: CA heavy Web-answerable

Web source
Presence: 5/5
"Several genera of carabid beetles are ectoparasitoids as larvae."
Why this source?
  • Directly states that several genera of carabid beetles are ectoparasitoids as larvae.
  • Explicitly contrasts the parasitoid habit in beetles as uncommon, yet confirms its presence in Carabidae.
Web source
Presence: 4/5
"A review of the natural history and evolution of ectoparasitoid relationships in carabid beetles."
Why this source?
  • Cites a review titled on the natural history and evolution of ectoparasitoid relationships in carabid beetles, indicating such relationships exist.
  • Provides authoritative reference material discussing ectoparasitoid relationships within the family Carabidae.

Environment, Shankar IAS Acedemy .(ed 10th) > Chapter 2: Functions of an Ecosystem > 0 f;1-*4 E.fiVIfiG > p. 17
Strength: 4/5
“has its pollen transferred to other flowers for cross-fertilization (reproduction). . Commensalism: one species benefits, the other is unaffected. Example: cow dung provides food and sheiter to dung beetles. The beetles have no effect on the cows. r Competition: both species are harmed by the interaction. Example: if two species eat the same food, and there isn't enough for both, both may have access to less food than they would if alone. They both suffer a shortage of food. r Predation and parasitism: one species benefits, the other is harmed, Example: predation—one fish kills and eats; parasitism—tick gains benefit by sucking blood; host is harmed by losing blood. o Amensalism: One species is harmed, the other is unaffected.”
Why relevant

Defines parasitism as a widespread interaction where one species benefits and the other is harmed (example: tick as parasite).

How to extend

A student could apply this general definition to search for documented parasitic/parasitoid interactions involving beetles or specifically Carabidae in the literature.

Environment, Shankar IAS Acedemy .(ed 10th) > Chapter 13: Plant Diversity of India > 13.4. INVASIVE ALIEN SPECIES > p. 199
Strength: 4/5
“Purposely or accidentally, people often bring nonnative species into new areas where the species have few or no natural predators to keep their populations in check. Aliens are species that occur outside their natural range. Alien species that threaten native plants and animals or other aspects of biodiversity are called alien invasive species. They occur in all groups of plants and animals, as competitors, predators, pathogens and parasites, and they have invaded almost every type of native ecosystem. Biological invasion by alien species is recognised as one of the major threats to native species and ecosystems. The effects on biodiversity are enormous and often irreversible.”
Why relevant

States that alien species and biological interactions (including parasites) occur in all groups of plants and animals.

How to extend

One can infer that parasitism as an interaction type is not restricted taxonomically and so look for records of parasites/parasitoids across insect families including carabids.

Environment, Shankar IAS Acedemy .(ed 10th) > Chapter 9: Indian Biodiversity Diverse Landscape > ENVIRONMENT > p. 156
Strength: 3/5
“• An insect's consists of 3 body parts and 6 legs and an antennae • E.g.: beetle, butterfly, moth, dragonfly, bee, wasp and praying mantis.”
Why relevant

Lists beetles among insects (insects have diverse forms and ecological roles).

How to extend

Knowing carabids are beetles, a student could combine this with the ubiquity of parasitism to prioritize checking entomological sources for parasitoids that use beetles as hosts.

Environment and Ecology, Majid Hussain (Access publishing 3rd ed.) > Chapter 4: BIODIVERSITY > IntroductIon. > p. 5
Strength: 3/5
“Te total number of species on the Earth is still not known fully. According to one estimate the number may vary from 10 to 100 million. Tese species are the products of about 4 billion years. Te variety and richness of plant and animal species may be examined at the local, regional or global levels. Biodiversity has the following fve aspects: • 1. Te distribution of diferent kinds of ecosystems, which comprise communities of plant, animals and microorganisms and the surrounding environment which are valuable not only for species they contain, but also in their own right.• 2. Te total number of species in a region or area.• 3.”
Why relevant

Notes the enormous, incompletely known number of species on Earth and richness of biodiversity.

How to extend

Given many undescribed interactions likely exist among the vast number of species, a student could reasonably suspect parasitoid-host relationships may be found in diverse beetle families and seek targeted host–parasitoid records for Carabidae.

Statement analysis

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Statement analysis

This statement analysis shows book citations, web sources and indirect clues. The first statement (S1) is open for preview.

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Statement analysis

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Statement analysis

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