Do hairworms (Nematomorpha) manipulate the water seeking behaviour of their terrestrial hosts?

• DOI: 10.1046/j.1420-9101.2002.00410.x
• Publication Date: 2003-03-12T04:49:52Z
• Authors: F. Thomas; A. Schmidt-Rhaesa; G. Martin; C. Manu; P. Durand; F. Renaud
• Keywords: Salt water; Commit

Abstract Several anecdotal reports in the literature have suggested that insects parasitized by hairworms (Nematomorpha) commit `suicide' jumping into an aquatic environment needed adult worm for continuation of its life cycle. Based on 2 years observations at a swimming pool open air, we saw this aberrant behaviour nine insect species followed emergence hairworms. We conducted field and laboratory experiments order to compare infected uninfected individuals cricket Nemobius sylvestris. The results clearly indicate crickets nematomorph Paragordius tricuspidatus are more likely jump water than ones. idea manipulation involved detection from long distances is not supported. Instead, our suggest may first display erratic which brings them sooner or later close stream then behavioural change makes enter water.