ABSTRACT
Symbiotic associations between plants and insects have developed in ways other than as myrmecophilous plants. Parasitism by algae and fungi are known to occur in human and animal tissues. Algal infections are really rare in man, although certain fungi are highly pathogenous to man, being saprophytic on skin and mucous membranes, often in competitive equilibrium with the bacterial flora. Eccrinales, fungi that live in the digestive tract of insects, are a kind of nonpathogenic fungus. Epizoic symbiosis is completely lacking in tropical Africa, where the high mountains are either volcanous or old crystalline mountain chains. Lichens live on species of Dryptops beetles, but it is on species of Gymnopholus and Pantorhytes weevils that are found the most complete series of plants. Young beetles have their scales intact and are without flora, while mature specimens are covered with lichens. The phenomenon of an epizoic lichenic flora may not be localized in Papua New Guinea exclusively, and may be much more widespread.
