Science is Fun Fridays!
Neuro-parasitology is a young field of study that looks at how certain parasites have evolved to understand and manipulate their host's neuro-chemical systems.
In the above snail, the parasitic worm it eats takes over the eye-stalks in order to grab the attention of hungry birds. The worm breeds inside the bird's guts, gets excreted, and the cycle starts over again.
Some parasites also engage in "mind control," in that it takes over the navigation of an insect. Seen above, a parasitic fungus, which will live off the ant until it's ready to release it's spores. It will guide the ant to a high point and emerge from the body.
Another example is a parasitic hairworm, that will infect a cricket and lead it to drown in the water, giving the hairworm the aquatic environment it was seeking.
By studying neuro-parasitology, we can learn a bit about decision making in animals and how they control their own behavior.
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