Pushing thread off page!

[Paul mabbott]

I used to do what I thought was a quite interesting lecture on (human) parasites. I think I still have the slides somewhere .... perhaps folks would like to see some of them ?

Honestly, they're fascinating and occasionally useful. Once, with some colleagues, I was having difficulty getting a table in a pub-resto so we stood around and discussed a recent four metre tapeworm and other things which came to mind .... it wasn't very long before there were a couple of free tables ....

[loripo]

Seriously - I did wonder when looking at that thread (whilst avoiding the photos!) are any parasites of use to the hosts - or does that make them symbionts and not parasites?

[JRsbugs]

Originally Posted by loripo

Seriously - I did wonder when looking at that thread (whilst avoiding the photos!) are any parasites of use to the hosts - or does that make them symbionts and not parasites?

loripo, I think Jim might treat that statement as OT. You could post the question on the thread, you might get an answer!

This is after all the Insects & Invertebrates forum, and anything goes. I should say except this thread as it is not either.

[loripo]

I will
Sorry Jim..

[Paul mabbott]

Parasites are organisms which benefit from their host but, generally, do not kill them - they are not predators.
However, generally, there is no benefit to the host so they are not symbionts. Although there is another definition of mutualism where both sides of the relationship benefit ......

Originally Posted by loripo

Seriously - I did wonder when looking at that thread (whilst avoiding the photos!) are any parasites of use to the hosts - or does that make them symbionts and not parasites?