The tiny wasp Ooencyrtus kuvanae lays its eggs inside the egg masses of gypsy moths. When the wasp larvae hatch, they burrow into the gypsy moth caterpillars and eat them from the inside. After they have completed their development, the adult wasps emerge from the bodies of the moth caterpillars, killing them in the process. This relationship is classified as
A) mutualism.
B) competition.
C) predation.
D) coevolution.
E) parasitism.

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

The relationship between Ooencyrtus kuvanae and gypsy moths is classified as parasitism because the wasp benefits by using the moth caterpillars as a host for its larvae, which ultimately harms and kills the caterpillars.

The Tiny Wasp Ooencyrtus Kuvanae Lays Its Eggs Inside the Egg