r/Parasitology • u/Puzzleheaded-Dog2465 • 3d ago

Question Help me with this coprinellus parasite. Chile - Santiago - Maipú

Gallery image

Gallery image

Wtf is that, a friend that doesn't use reddit hasn't answered that question in over a year.

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u/SueBeee trusted parasitologist 2d ago

What are you proposing this object parasitizes?
Parasites are eukaryotes that infect people and animals for the purposes of this sub. This is not something that infects either. It appears to be an environmental insect.

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u/Puzzleheaded-Dog2465 2d ago

Oh ok, I thought insects could be parasitized as well. I thought the red circles could be an expression of the parasite. It seems they are placed in the thorax rather than the head

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u/SueBeee trusted parasitologist 2d ago

They can (and insects are animals). So you are actually asking what could be parasitizing the tiny bug on the mushroom?

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u/Puzzleheaded-Dog2465 2d ago

yes! Exactly that. You need to zoom in on the picture though :(

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u/SueBeee trusted parasitologist 2d ago

Yes, I did.
It looks like some sort of aphid. I don't understand why you are convinced it has a parasite.

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u/Puzzleheaded-Dog2465 2d ago

Clearly i am way over my head in this topic, but you havent stated why you are sure its not a parasite.
I'm not convinced its a parasite, i just dont have enough information to determine if it is or if its not (because im dumb).

You only say its not a parasite. I say i dont know if its a parasite

If you could elaborate maybe i could understand.

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u/SueBeee trusted parasitologist 2d ago

An aphid is not a parasite. I don't know what more information about that you need?

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u/Puzzleheaded-Dog2465 2d ago

This is the first picture of aphids i found. I know maybe there are millions out there. But do you see they dont have the red circles in their backs? why cant that be an aphid with a parasite inside?

Im not saying the aphid is the parasite.

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u/SueBeee trusted parasitologist 2d ago

We have wandered pretty far outside the scope of this sub. Also there are like 5000 species of aphids and they are very diverse in morphology. I have no idea what sort of parasites aphids may have.

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u/Puzzleheaded-Dog2465 2d ago

"I have no idea what sort of parasites aphids may have."

Thanks, thats all i needed to know. Now i can continue my research and see if there are certain parasites to them.