Phoresy

Phoresy is the act of 'hitching a lift' on another organism. As invertebrates are small and not all have wings many travel comparatively long distances by using other, more mobile, organisms.

For example, flower mites are wingless and so use foraging bees to travel to new flowers. When bees enter a flower to collect nectar or pollen the mites climb on to the bee. The bee then flies to the next flower and the mites climb off the bee.

Another good example is that of pseudoscorpions are small arachnids that resemble scorpions without the long tail and sting. When a flying insect lands nearby the pseudoscorpions grab hold of the larger insect using their pincers. When the insect flies to a new location they carry the pseudoscorpion with them.

A photograph of a pseudoscorpion holding on to the femur of an adult fly with its pincers. The fly will carry the pseudoscorpion to a new location.
Photograph by Sarefo licensed under Creative Commons.

Related terms

• Commensalism
• Diptera
• Mite
• Pseudoscorpion
• Symbiosis

Related groups of terms

• General biology

See other words beginning with P