We investigate the properties of satellite galaxies that surround isolated hosts within the redshift range 0.01 < z < 0.15 , using data taken as part of the Galaxy And Mass Assembly survey .
Making use of isolation and satellite criteria that take into account stellar mass estimates , we find 3 514 isolated galaxies of which 1 426 host a total of 2 998 satellites .
Separating the red and blue populations of satellites and hosts , using colour-mass diagrams , we investigate the radial distribution of satellite galaxies and determine how the red fraction of satellites varies as a function of satellite mass , host mass and the projected distance from their host .
Comparing the red fraction of satellites to a control sample of small neighbours at greater projected radii , we show that the increase in red fraction is primarily a function of host mass .
The satellite red fraction is about 0.2 higher than the control sample for hosts with 11.0 < \log _ { 10 } { \mathcal { M } } _ { * } < 11.5 , while the red fractions show no difference for hosts with 10.0 < \log _ { 10 } { \mathcal { M } } _ { * } < 10.5 .
For the satellites of more massive hosts the red fraction also increases as a function of decreasing projected distance .
Our results suggest that the likely main mechanism for the quenching of star formation in satellites hosted by isolated galaxies is strangulation .