In a world-first, these research results demonstrate that parasites can manipulate the host's specific light perception system to their advantage, causing the host to behave in an abnormal manner.

Researchers have revealed that praying mantis (mantids) infected with parasitic hairworms are attracted to horizontally polarized light that is strongly reflected off the surface of water, which causes them to enter the water. Once the mantid is in the water, the hairworm escapes back into the aquatic environment to reproduce, and its lifecycle ends. If the aquatic insect is consumed by a mantid, the hairworm grows inside the mantid’s body until it reaches maturity and causes its host to enter the water. After the aquatic insect has grown wings, the hairworm is transported from an aquatic environment to a terrestrial environment. After hatching in the water, hairworm larvae parasitize aquatic insects and form a cyst in the hosts’ body cavity. If we're going to make sure that a horrifying epidemic of mind-controlling worms doesn't take over humanity, we're going to have to get to know our enemy a little better.Figure 1: The life cycle of the hairworm. Studies documenting the risk of horsehair worms infecting humans have been published recently and the results are more than a little disconcerting. Parasitic horsehair worms primarily target invertebrates like insects but scientists believe that the worms are increasingly becoming a concern for humans as well. Highly invasive, these creatures can take over a host's bodily functions, even going as far as rewiring their victims' brains. Many horsehair worms can even grow to be as heavy as the hosts they inhabit. Here you can meet members of the phylum Nematomorpha, creepy worm parasites that leave their victims scarred both physically and emotionally. Also known as horsehair worms, these disgusting pa rasitoid animals can be found in nearly every corner of the globe terrorizing their hosts and sucking the life right out of them.

If you haven't been traumatized today, then you've come to the right place.

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