Flesh-eating parasitizing maggots are the offspring of the fly, Ormia ochracea, which invaded Hawaii from North America. The adult flies follow the chirps of a calling cricket and then deposit wriggling maggots onto the cricket's back. The maggots burrow into the cricket, and emerge, a week later, killing the cricket in the process. Between 1991 and 2001, there were documented major declines in the island's cricket population. In one study, 30% of calling males were infested with the parasite, and in 2001, the island was virtually silent. But in 2003, the cricket population had rebounded. Crickets were back but they were silent crickets! What is the BEST explanation of how this happened?

Question

Yandel Patrick

Biology

3 January, 12:31

Flesh-eating parasitizing maggots are the offspring of the fly, Ormia ochracea, which invaded Hawaii from North America. The adult flies follow the chirps of a calling cricket and then deposit wriggling maggots onto the cricket's back. The maggots burrow into the cricket, and emerge, a week later, killing the cricket in the process. Between 1991 and 2001, there were documented major declines in the island's cricket population. In one study, 30% of calling males were infested with the parasite, and in 2001, the island was virtually silent. But in 2003, the cricket population had rebounded. Crickets were back but they were silent crickets! What is the BEST explanation of how this happened?

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Answers (1)

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Rihanna Stevens · Answer 1

Answer: Evolution and natural selection.

Explanation:

The Cricket evolved with wings that made no sound. This protected them from getting eaten by flesh eating parasite maggots. As they were attracted by the chirping of cricket.

The mutant species of cricket male now produced no sound while rubbing the wings together which protected them from being killed by maggots.

The naturally selected mutant cricket saved them self by evolution and natural selection.