Why earwigs infected by parasitic worms head towards water
Researchers are investigating why European earwigs infected with parasitic worms exhibit unusual water-seeking behavior. The study suggests that the parasite manipulates the host's gene activity to drive this self-destructive behavior.
Why it matters
Understanding how parasites manipulate host behavior provides critical insights into evolutionary biology and the complex interactions between species.
edited by Gaby Clark , reviewed by Robert Egan
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Add as preferred source An earwig and a Mermis nigrescens parasitic worm. Credit: Robert Poulin. Earwigs, small, elongated insects with distinctive pincers at the rear of their abdomens, have little reason to enter open water. While many earwig species are attracted to damp environments, they typically avoid open water. Yet past studies have found that European earwigs infected with a parasitic roundworm called Mermis nigrescens tend to head toward open water. The molecular and biological reasons for this unusual behavior have not been fully uncovered.
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