Conservation of arthropod parasites: Restoring crucial ecological linkages

Abstract

Parasitic biodiversity is focussed as a key component of conservation targets based on their ecological roles in the present review. Arthropods adopt parasitism as one of the common strategies for survival. However, some parasites are threatened by not only direct factors such as environmental conditions but also by indirect ones such as the effect on their hosts/prey. Conservation of parasites would help to sustain evenness in arthropod communities. Diptera, Hymenoptera, and Siphonaptera are orders of insects, mites, and ticks implicated as vectors in transmission of diseases in human populations and agricultural ecosystem of tropics and subtropics. Recently, outbreak of Zika viral disease has been reported in over 12 countries. This comprehensive review will be of value to scientists, students, and policy makers for biodiversity management.