Lampsilis Mussels
What fish do Lampsilis mussels target for their larvae?
Largemouth Bass
What controls the snail’s behavior?
Parasitic worm
Where does the female beetle lay her eggs?
In the desert sand
Which insect does the hairworm control to reach water?
Cricket
What does a parasite need to survive?
Host
What does the mussel use to lure the Bass?
Fish-like lure resembling a darter or shiner
Where do hypnotized snails move to?
Into sunlight, on exposed branches
What do the larvae mimic to attract male digger bees?
Female bee pheromones
What is the intermediate host for hairworm larvae?
Mayfly
Which is an example of a parasite using mimicry?
Lampsilis mussel using fish-like lure
How do mussel larvae attach to the fish?
Snap onto the gills
Which animal eats the snail to continue the parasite’s lifecycle?
Birds
Why do larvae hitch a ride on bees?
To reach a safe food source (bee nest)
How does the hairworm manipulate the cricket?
Alters brain chemistry to make it walk to water
Why do some parasites have very complicated life cycles?
To make sure they reach the right host and survive
Why have some mussel lures evolved to look like specific fish?
To increase chances of being attacked and dispersing larvae
How do snails become reinfected?
Eating bird droppings containing parasite eggs
What do larvae eat inside the bee nest?
Pollen and bee offspring
What happens after the hairworm exits the cricket?
Reproduces in water
Name a parasite that controls host behavior.
Hairworm or parasitic worm in snails
What happens if the lure is not convincing enough?
The Bass ignores it, and larvae fail to reach the fish
How do the snail’s tentacles help the parasite?
They mimic maggots to lure birds
How do larvae know when to jump onto the bee?
When the male bee arrives to mate
Why doesn’t the hairworm kill the cricket immediately?
It needs the cricket to transport it to water
What is one evolutionary advantage of complex host manipulation?
Increases survival and reproduction of the parasite