Baby bugs must play 'game of roulette' to find survival partners before time runs out

Symbiosis, or the interaction of two unalike species, is common and often necessary for survival. In insects, symbiotic microbes often facilitate and promote the growth of hosts. Before the symbiotic collaboration can begin, however, hosts must acquire their symbionts. Sometimes, they are passed on from parents to offspring; other times, hosts must find their symbionts themselves—or face dire consequences if they fail to do so in a timely fashion, a new Frontiers in Microbiology study has shown.