Chordodes formosanus is a horsehair worm that has the praying mantis as its definitive host. Horsehair worms are obligate parasites that pass through different hosts at various stages. These worms can grow up to 90 centimetres (35 in) long and can be extremely dangerous for their host, especially the praying mantis.

Jan 1, 2024 · Mantids infected with C. fukuii become attracted to light, like the shiny surface of water. This behavior is believed to arise from protein-level changes in both the parasite and the host's...

This is how to tell if a praying mantis has a parasite: by looking at its features, size and behavior. A praying mantis with a parasite often lacks wings. It usually has stunted growth. And the parasite may manipulate the mantis’ behavior, for instance by drawing the mantis towards water bodies.

Oct 31, 2023 · In this video, a parasitic nematode escapes the body of a praying mantis abdomen that is under water. The parasite in question is Coptotermes formosanus, more commonly known as a horsehair...

Oct 19, 2023 · Parasitic horsehair worms that dwell in the guts of praying mantises compel their hosts to walk to water and drown themselves. Now, scientists have discovered the secret to these worms'...

Mar 4, 2015 · Mantids get a wide range of parasites, some of which are quite unusual. They’re attacked by wasps, flies, beetles, fungi and worms called Nematomorphs. It’s worth mentioning that a lot of these are very poorly known, and some of …

Jun 29, 2021 · 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,...

May 15, 2022 · Among several other Praying Mantis parasites—including horrible worms and fungi—this article describes a couple of parasitic wasps that target mantises. The first one mentioned is a Scelionid wasp from the genus Mantidophaga. The adult Mantidophaga wasp lives out its life on a host Praying Mantis.

Jan 1, 2001 · Praying mantids (Mantoptera) are the most important hosts of horsehair worms (Nematomorpha) in tropical and subtropical regions worldwide. 82 reports of nematomorph-mantid relationships are reported, 11 of which are new to science. The majority of nematomorph species parasitizing mantids belongs to the genus Chordodes.

Oct 19, 2023 · Researchers behind a new study published today in Current Biology suggest horsehair worms possess hundreds of genes that allow them to hijack a mantis’ movement—and they may have acquired these genes directly from their ill-fated hosts.