Abstract
From 1982 to 1984, female Halictidae of three species were captured during two distinct periods of the year (spring, and late summer and early fall) with primary larvae of Rhipiphoridae that subsequently parasitize the halictid offspring firmly attached to the halictid wings. Most larvae were clustered in the basal sectors of the host hind wing with the larval head always pointing towards the host bee body. Analysis of the forces acting on the rhipiphorid larvae during bee flight revealed that the attached larvae could be subjected to accelerative forces of 150 × g or more. Light and scanning electron microscopy revealed morphological adaptations to aid in wing anchoring, showing that rhipiphorid larvae are explicitly designed to survive life on the bee wing.
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