Phagophilia or phagophily is the behaviour of feeding on parasites. It is also an example of cleaning symbiosis.[1][2]

Austrian arachnologist Max Beier reported on phagophilia in pseudoscorpions. Many pseudoscorpion species co-exist with packrat species, and two of them are known to feed on packrat ectoparasites, to mutual benefit.[3][4]

References

  1. ↑ "A glossary of some of the terms used in insect ecology", by Claude K. Warner, 1947, Cornell University
  2. ↑ "Die Formen der Vergesellschaftung im Tierreiche: Ein systematisch-soziologischer Versuch", Paul Deegener, 1918
  3. ↑ SYMBIOTIC RELATIONSHIPS BETWEEN PSEUDOSCORPIONS (ARACHNIDA) AND PACKRATS (RODENTIA), Journal of Arachnology 34(2):289-298. 2006, doi:10.1636/04-36.1
  4. ↑ Beier, M. 1948. Phoresie und phagophilie bei pseudoscorpionen. Österreichische Zoologische Zeitschrift 1:441–497.


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