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I Contain Multitudes: A Wasp Mom's Gift--Blankets of Bacteria

9 minutes 10 seconds

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Micros images of an insect.

The beewolf is a digger wasp that preys on honey bees. A beewolf mother stings a honey bee and deposits an egg on the bee’s paralyzed body. When the beewolf larva hatches, it can feed on the honey bee. Scientists discovered that the beewolf’s antennae are packed with bacteria called Streptomyces, which produce a variety of antibiotic substances. The beewolf spreads the antibiotic-producing bacteria on the cocoon in which the larva develops. In this way, the larva is protected from being infected by harmful bacteria and fungi. Part of the "I Contain Multitudes" series.

Media Details

Runtime: 9 minutes 10 seconds

A diagram illustrates a lot of microbes in the blood, high temperature and a human skeleton.
I Contain Multitudes
Episode 1
7 minutes 11 seconds
Grade Level: 10 - 12
Mushrooms.
I Contain Multitudes
Episode 2
8 minutes 3 seconds
Grade Level: 10 - 12
A diagram illustrates a seal going to dine on a squid.
I Contain Multitudes
Episode 3
8 minutes 6 seconds
Grade Level: 10 - 12
A microscopic view shows a number of microbes.
I Contain Multitudes
Episode 4
9 minutes 20 seconds
Grade Level: 10 - 12
An oceanic map. A scale shows a submarine diving below 3000 feet.
I Contain Multitudes
Episode 5
10 minutes 20 seconds
Grade Level: 10 - 12
A diagram shows illustrations of butterflies, wasps, bees, and caterpillars.
I Contain Multitudes
Episode 6
9 minutes 3 seconds
Grade Level: 10 - 12
Micros images of an insect.
I Contain Multitudes
Episode 7
9 minutes 10 seconds
Grade Level: 10 - 12