Question

A mite is a tiny organism that may "ride" on top of an insect such as a beetle in order to move quickly from place to place.

This relationship between the mite and the beetle would be an example of parasitism if ___________.

1. the beetle is unable to catch prey because it is slowed down by the mite.
2. the mite protects the beetle from predators.
3. the beetle eats the mite.
4. the beetle is neither harmed nor helped by the mite.

Answer 1

In parasitism, the parasite benefits while the host is harmed by the relationship. In the given example of the mite and beetle, it would be an example of parasitism if the beetle is unable to catch prey because it is slowed down by the mite.

Step-by-step explanation:

Parasitism is a type of association between two organisms in which one of them, the parasite, is dependent on and lives at the expense of the other, the host. In this relationship, the parasite benefits, but the host is harmed. The host is usually weakened by the parasite as it siphons resources the host would normally use to maintain itself.

In the given scenario, the relationship between the mite and the beetle would be an example of parasitism if the beetle is unable to catch prey because it is slowed down by the mite. This is because in parasitism, the host is harmed and the parasite benefits.

Answer 2

The beetle is unable to catch prey because it is slowed down by the mite