Parasites Effect on Behavior

Introduction of the topic and why it is so

interesting
• This is interesting because of the idea of active intent
• Is it symptomatic or is it intentional guidance
• Can over ride the survival instincts created by years of evolution
• The idea that something else is in control of your body and mind –
obliteration of free will
Overview slide – What to Expect
• Modified behavior - goal of transmission
• Ophiocordyceps fungi – willpower control
• baculovirus
• Jewel wasp (Ampulex compressa)
• Kamikaze horsehair worm (Paragordius tricuspidatus
• Green-banded broodsac (Leucochloridium paradoxum)
• Toxoplasma gongii – personality control
Symptom or Intent?
Ophiocordyceps fungi
• What happens :
• Willpower control
• Ants decend from canopy nest to 25 cm above the soil
• Bite stem right before they die

• Why it happens:
• 25 cm above the soil is the optimal location for parasite development
• Jaws locking ensures ants remain in perfect location after death
Baculovirus
• Caterpillars normally wouldn’t be found on the tip of a leaf during the day because birds
would eat them immediately
• These caterpillars infected with the baculovirus are encouraged by the virus to keep
eating so that they keep growing and making more of the virus
• The virus forces it to climb a high up a leaf
• The virus produces an enzyme that liquifies the caterpillar tissue
• The caterpillar explodes and covers the other caterpillars and branches below, spreading
the virus
Jewel Wasp
• “live, immobile food for the larvae”
• it stings a cockroach in the head and injects a neurotoxic venom directly inside the brain
• cockroach becomes unresponsive to aversive stimuli
• Doesn’t try to escape even though it is not paralyzed
• Researchers think that the cockaroaches give up or despair faster than unstung
cockroaches
• it allows the wasp to cut both its antennae and drink hemolymph from the cut ends
• The wasp pulls from antennal stumps and leads the cockroach to its nest
• Lays an egg on the cock and larvae feast on its internal organs for several days until
cochroach finally dies
Kamikize Horsehair worm
• a tiny horsehair worm larva is eaten by the larva of another insect, such as a mosquito or mayfly. Once this emerges from the
water, a cricket or grasshopper will snatch it up.
• horsehair worm develops inside the cricket
•
• the worm's final stage of development takes place in water. The cricket wouldn't normally swim, or even hang out near water,
so the worm must get it there.
•
• altering the functions of the cricket's central nervous system, the worm coerces it into jumping in water, drown itself, allowing
the horsehair worm to emerge and reproduce.
•
• Parasite worm induces suicide forcing insects who would normally avoid water to jump in
• The parasite needs an aquatic habitat in order to emerge
• During later stages of infection, infected crickets called less than unifected crickets
• Theory is that mate calling is too energetically expensive
• It is in the interest of the parasite to save that energy for itself (its own growing)
• Calling also attracts predators, gives away your location and more susceptible to being eaten
• It is in the interest of the parasite to survive to make it to the water where it can reproduce
• Even though calling for a mate and avoiding water is in the interest of the cricket, the parasite is the one calling the shots and
the cricket has no say
Green-banded Broodsac
• This parasitic flatworm inserts itself into the snails eye stalks so they look like like the
appetizing green caterpillars that birds like to eat
• The worm makes the snail position itself in brightly light, exposed and higher altitudes
• This behavior is different than behavior of non infected snails
• The worm can reproduce in birds
Toxoplasma gongii
• What happens :
• Personality control
• Rats lose their fear of cat pee and become aroused by the scent
• Why it happens:
• Cats are the only host in which this parasite can reproduce
Summary & take home points
• effects are intentionally manipulative to ensure survival
• The ability of parasites to manipulate host behavior is a
demonstration of adaptation by natural selection