Thursday, December 14, 2006

Cricket infected with Parasitic Gordian worm commiting suicide

Gordian worm live inside crickets for long periods, feeding on the cricket's diet. Once fully grown, they inject chemicals into the cricket's brain brainwashing it and forcing it to kill itself by jumping into the water. Once in water, the worm wriggles out of the writhing body and swims off in search of a mate.
Article published in Apr 06 Nature magazine

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