Self-medication in insects

Dalial Freitak

Self-medication in insects is a fascinating area of research within animal behavior and ecology. It refers to behaviors exhibited by insects where they actively seek out and use substances from their environment to prevent or cure diseases or to deal with parasites. This behavior can be seen as an adaptive strategy to improve survival and overall health, showcasing the remarkable cognitive abilities of these creatures to manage their own well-being.

A well-documented example of self-medication in insects is how certain ant species include resin from trees in their nests to combat fungal infections due to its antimicrobial properties. Similarly, some caterpillars consume toxic plants to kill or inhibit the growth of internal parasites.

Dalial Freitak is a prominent researcher known for her contributions to this field, specifically in the study of insect immunity and self-medication behaviors. She has worked on projects exploring how insects use various environmental cues and substances to bolster their immune responses or mitigate infections. Freitak's research often focuses on understanding the immune system of insects, how it can be influenced by diet, and how these findings can have implications for broader ecological and evolutionary questions. For example, her studies have looked into how insects pass immunity-related information to offspring, which could inform the development of new pest control strategies or enhance the health of pollinators.