#dicrocoelium dendriticum

[loverman13]

Procedevamo leggeri senza pensare ad altro che a trovare la strada, intenti a godere di tutto ciò che si offriva allo sguardo: una pianta di nocciolo, il volo di uno svasso, un granaio di pietre a secco. Ci accontentavamo di quelle cose. Ci sottraevamo al dispositivo.

Il dispositivo era la somma delle eredità comportamentali, delle sollecitazioni sociali, delle influenze politiche e delle difficoltà economiche che determinavano i nostri destini pur restando inavvertite. Il dispositivo disponeva di noi. Nel suo modo insidioso e sornione, ci imponeva una condotta senza che ci rendessimo nemmeno conto del suo accresciuto potere.

C'è un piccolo verme, il dicrocoelium dendriticum, che infesta le formiche e ne controlla i movimenti costringendole a rimanere immobili su un filo d'erba, qui sono mangiate dagli erbivori che diventano i nuovi ospiti del parassita. Il dicrocoelium è il dispositivo della formica. I microchip al silicio sono i nostri dicrocoelium[sic]. Ognuno di noi, pienamente consenziente, porta con sé il suo parassita sotto la forma di uno di quei processori tecnologici che regolano le nostre vite.

I papuani si tramandano una visione del mondo nella quale il potere degli spiriti si mescola alla realtà: quello è il loro dispositivo. Il nostro non ci fa mancare le comodità, la salute e un'alimentazione ricca e abbondante, ma ci inocula la sua narrazione e ci sorveglia. Riceviamo le sue informazioni e la sua pubblicità, ci pieghiamo ai suoi imperativi, ubbidiamo alle sue ingiunzioni ed esso ci subissa di intimazioni diluite nel chiacchiericcio generale.

Sui sentieri neri ci inoltravamo nel silenzio sottraendoci al suo influsso. Ogni bosco offriva un rifugio dove le notizie erano deliziose ma difficili da individuare e da registrare: un barbagianni aveva fatto il nido tra le travi di un mulino, un falco attaccava il quartier generale di un roditore, un orbettino danzava tra le radici. Cose così. Avevano la loro importanza ma il dispositivo le ignorava.

in Sentieri neri / Sur les chemins noirs di Sylvain Tesson (2016). Traduzione di Roberta Ferrara (2018). Edito da Sellerio.

[foone]

Why do I never hear vore fetishists talk about Dicrocoelium dendriticum (the lancet liver fluke)?

[antiqueanimals]

The developmental cycle of the Lancet liver fluke (Dicrocoelium dendriticum)

Grzimek's Animal Life Encyclopedia: vol. 1 - Lower Animals. Written by Dr. Bernhard Grzimek. 1974.

Internet Archive

[mindblowingscience]

The lancet liver fluke, Dicrocoelium dendriticum, has a complicated life cycle that begins with the hijacking of an ant's brain. The unsuspecting ant climbs up and clamps its powerful jaws onto the top of a blade of grass, making it more likely to be eaten by grazers such as cattle and deer. Researchers from the University of Copenhagen's Department of Plant and Environmental Sciences have discovered that the parasite's ability to control the ant is even more cunning than previously believed. Impressively, the parasite can even get the ant to crawl back down the blade of grass when it gets too hot. "Getting the ants high up in the grass for when cattle or deer graze during the cool morning and evening hours, and then down again to avoid the sun's deadly rays, is quite smart. Our discovery reveals a parasite that is more sophisticated than we originally believed it to be," explains Associate Professor Brian Lund Fredensborg, who conducted the study together with former graduate student Simone Nordstrand Gasque, now a Ph.D. student at Wageningen University in the Netherlands.

Continue Reading.

[sciencestyled]

The Misadventures of a Jabberwock and the Tale of Zombie Ants

Once upon a not-so-ordinary day, beneath the canopies of Tulgey Wood, I, a somewhat misunderstood creature known by the moniker Jabberwock, found myself ensnared in a series of events so bizarre, they would make a jubjub bird’s feathers stand on end. It all began with a vorpal blade, a boy, and a whimsical wish to escape what seemed like an inevitable end. Yet, fate, as fickle as a frumious Bandersnatch, had other plans.

In a twist of events that not even Lewis Carroll could have conjured, the vorpal blade, instead of ending my tale, clipped a lock of my mane, which, imbued with the peculiar magic of Wonderland, whisked me away to a realm far from my own. I landed with a thud, not on the familiar mossy floor of Tulgey Wood, but in the leafy labyrinths of Denmark’s Bidstrup Forests. Disoriented yet intrigued, I set forth on an exploration, my curiosity piqued by the sights and smells of this new world.

My wanderings led me to a sight most peculiar: ants, not marching in their usual industrious lines, but behaving in a manner most bizarre. They climbed to the tips of grass blades and twigs, froze there as if bewitched, then, come dawn, scurried back to the earth. This spectacle, reminiscent of a mad tea party sans the tea, captivated my imagination. What sorcery caused these ants to act against their nature?

In pursuit of answers, I befriended a local hedgehog, a creature as erudite as he was prickly. He regaled me with tales of Dicrocoelium dendriticum, a lancet liver fluke with a penchant for puppetry. These flukes, he explained, commandeered ants to complete their life cycle in a manner most macabre, turning them into what he called "zombie ants." My fascination turned to obsession. I had to learn more, to understand the why and the how of this parasitic plot.

Armed with a newfound purpose, I embarked on a scholarly quest unlike any before. I dove into the study of these flukes, their zombie hosts, and the circle of life that intertwined their fates. My days were filled with observation, my nights with reflection, as I sought to unravel the mysteries of this natural phenomenon. The more I learned, the more I realized the importance of sharing this tale, to show that even in the smallest of creatures, the struggles and strategies for survival were as compelling as any epic.

Thus, with a heart full of passion and a head full of knowledge, I decided to pen an article. My aim? To illuminate the minds of others to the wonders and whimsies of nature, to reveal the science behind the sorcery. "The Parasitic Plot of Zombie Ants Told by Lewis Carroll’s Jabberwock" would be a masterpiece, a blend of science and storytelling that would enchant and educate in equal measure.

In crafting this tale, I found a voice I never knew I had. My narrative was not just about zombie ants and their fluke foes; it was a testament to the curiosity that drives us to explore, to learn, and to marvel at the world around us. It was a reminder that even in the smallest of beings, there are stories worth telling, wonders worth uncovering.

And so, dear reader, as you peruse my account of the parasitic plot that unfolds in the leafy labyrinths of Bidstrup Forests, remember this: in the heart of every tale, no matter how odd or otherworldly, lies a kernel of truth, a spark of wonder. Let it ignite your imagination, fuel your fascination, and perhaps, lead you on an adventure of your own. For in the end, isn't that what tales are for? To inspire, to educate, and to entertain, all in the most whimsical of ways.

[journalmedic]

Journal Efficacy of a single-dose albendazole against lancet liver fluke Dicrocoelium dendriticum and liver enzymes activity in naturally infected sheep

Infections with D. dendriticum are distributed worldwide and mostly associated with ruminant livestock. Depending on the length and strength of the infection it can be manifested with losses in milk production, reductions in milk and wool quality, decreased weight gains, reproductive performance and poor carcass quality. The objective of this study was to determine the efficacy of albendazole (ABZ) against the lancet liver fluke Dicrocoelium dendriticum in naturally infected sheep using parasitological methods. Twenty-four sheep were divided into four groups: two untreated control groups (C1, C2) and two treated groups (T1, T2), with six animals in each group. The sheep in the treated groups were administered a single oral dose (15 mg/kg bwt) of ABZ suspension. After ABZ treatment the animals were slaughtered on Day 14 (groups C1, T1) and Day 30 (groups C2, T2) and were necropsied. Coprological therapeutic ABZ efficacy reached 92.4% on Day 14 (P < 0.001) and 88.5% on Day 30 (P < 0.001). On Day 30, the serum activities of hepatic and cholestatic enzymes including serological analysis of total protein concentration (TP) and protein fractions were evaluated. Significant decrease of aspartate aminotransferase (AST) (P < 0.01) and gamma-glutamyltransferase (GGT) (P < 0.05) activity by 36.9% and 34.6%, respectively, were detected for sheep in T2 group. These enzymes showed a strong positive correlation to fluke burden: AST (r = 0.654) and GGT (r = 0.768), respectively (P < 0.05). Additionally, the electrophoretic analysis of serum total protein and protein fraction concentrations revealed minimal hypoproteinemia and hyperalbuminemia after ABZ treatment. The decrease of liver enzyme activities and their correlation with fluke burden may indicate recovery of hepatocellular and biliary damage following the reduction of fluke burdens after ABZ therapy. A decline in AST and GGT activity could serve as a valuable adjunct bioindicator of liver damage and fluke reduction after treatment of dicrocoeliosis in naturally infected sheep.

Authors (9) : Alžbeta Königová, Ľudmila Burcáková, Michal Babják, Michaela Urda Dolinská, Zuzana Kostecká, Jana Šimková, Jozef Kremeň, Tetiana A Kuzmina, Marián Várady

[entomoblog]

Un parasite transforme des fourmis en zombies au lever et au coucher du soleil

S'approprier le corps d'un hôte approprié n'est pas une nouveauté dans le monde opportuniste du parasitisme. Les fourmis zombies ne le sont pas non plus, grâce au champignon, largement décrit par votre serviteur, Ophiocordyceps unilateralis, qui a même remporté le premier prix dans des concours de photographie.

  Guru Med | 18 Sep 2023

  "Mais pour la première fois, des scientifiques ont découvert comment un astucieux ver plat pathogène peut activer et désactiver un « mode zombie », s’engageant dans une prise de contrôle hostile intermittente lorsque cela lui convient le mieux. Des chercheurs de l’université de Copenhague (Danemark) ont révélé un mécanisme d’action extrêmement sophistiqué chez la petite douve du foie (Dicrocoelium dendriticum), dépassant les stratégies de survie observées chez d’autres organismes qui transforment leurs hôtes peu méfiants en « zombies »."

    L’étude publiée dans Behavioral Ecology : Expression of trematode-induced zombie-ant behavior is strongly associated with temperature et présentée sur le site de l’Université de Copenhague : Mechanisms of Mind Control: Brain-Altering Parasite Turns Ants Into Zombies at Dawn and Dusk.

  Image d’entête : fourmi disséquée où l’on peut voir les parasites enveloppés (structures ovales blanches) se répandre hors de la partie postérieure du corps. (Brian Lund Fredensborg/ Université de Copenhague)

Bernadette Cassel's insight:

  Sur le même sujet

  Des fourmis transformées en zombies à cause de la technique imparable d’un parasite - De www.huffingtonpost.fr - 18 septembre, 19:28

[lolonolo-com]

İnfeksiyöz Hastalıklar 2022-2023 Final Soruları

İnfeksiyöz Hastalıklar 2022-2023 Final Soruları 1. Aşağıdaki Trematodlardan hangisi iyi pişmemiş veya enfekte ara konak balık yendiğinde insanlarda hastalık yaparak ciddi sorunlar oluşturabilir? A) Fasciola gigantica B) Paramphistomum cevri C) Opisthorchis tenuicollis D) Dicrocoelium dendriticum E) Fasciola hepatica Cevap : C) Opisthorchis tenuicollis 2. Aşağıdakilerden hangisi kuduzun…

[n7punk]

speaking of infected ants, you should look into what dicrocoelium dendriticum, a parasitic worm, do to them. also i once did a presentation about fungi and it disturbed my whole class. even my teacher looked a little bit queasy

ive mentioned i have social anxiety. so every time i see an inbox notif, i always have a second where i go "fuck, it's gonna be some dipshit, or anon hate, or something like that". it's always a flash of a thought, but of course given the recent messages its more prevalent right now. let me tell you, this sure wasn't anon hate, but i kind of wish it were. it wouldn't be this, at least

[kingyo-diva]

There comes a time when you have to put your foot down and say "fuck you Dicrocoelium dendriticum and your massive reproductive organs" and watch Stranger things.

[nanonaturalist]

IMPORTANT UPDATE: It appears I have misidentified an enthusiastic and determined leaf-cutter ant as a harvester ant being mind controlled by a parasite. I want to stress that the parasite being discussed below is very real, but my photos above are probably not of an ant with this parasite. Some important discussion (including my take on making mistakes in science) takes place in this reblog thread [link].

GUYS I JUST SAW AN ANT WITH THE FREAKY MIND CONTROL PARASITE. The parasite is a microscopic flatworm (Dicrocoelium dendriticum) with a crazy lifecycle–it starts out in snails, then gets into ants, then goes to cows, and starts all over again. The ants affected by this parasite will climb to the end of a stalk of grass in the evening and wait there until early morning, where they will go back to regular ant activities, every day until they're eaten by a cow.

This ant is a harvester ant (I believe–last two photos are of the nest) which is interesting because the wikipedia article specifies the species this parasite affects in the US, and it’s not a harvester ant. But this spot (a ranch with a pond and lots of cows nearby) would be a great environment for the parasite to thrive. This ant was struggling but COULDN’T let go. I tried to get more/better photos with the microscope but lost the blade of grass (wind blew it away) before I could get set up.

Learn more about this parasite here: https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dicrocoelium_dendriticum

April 8, 2017

[far-from--perfection]

Because opisthorchis viverrini and opisthorchis Felineus are brothers, they planned to cause a “distomatose hepatobiliaire” , but they cant do that alone, we all know that this is a looot of work to do, .. and the more they are the more the fun…so they invited their friends… Paragonimus Kellicotti , Clonorchis sinensis … and then they gathered at the twin’s house -Fasciola hepatica and fasciola gigantica…. The brothers explained the plan well and gave each one his own job… but then the Paragonimus kellicotti said: am not in guys! This is such a bad idea…your plan sucks dudes! … When he opened the door to get out, finally came Dicrocoelium dendriticum…late as always with his sleepy face …he said something very phylosophic….something that made them all question their existence, He said: guys! Why do we always have to turn medicine student’s lives into hell like that!! Dont you have enough of all this?! Let’s just leave them in peace … Poor Dicrocoelium dendriticum…he was such a nice guy 😢

The end, well not really …

Paragonimus kellicotti who got out…ended up stealing the band idea and modifying it…because he knew that this would bring him a fortune…so he decided to work solo on causing “ distomatose pulmonaire” … such a Trematode he is :3

[bogleech]

Yessss all this talk of parasites inspire me to paint some in watercolors for a gallery show. I know for sure I'd like to paint green-banded broodsac, horsehair worms, Nomuraea atypicola, and cordyceps. I want to show how important they are for population control, and without them we'd be neck deep in insects. Are there any other parasites you know that only target insects? I know there's a bunch for mammals, but I only know those four for insects. Thanks!

In addition to horsehair worms, various other nematodes and nematode-like phyla seem to hold a monopoly on infecting arthropods.

Some of the wildest I can think of:

Heterorhabditis nematodes have their own symbiotic bacteria that change the color of their host insect, and in some cases even make the host "glow" under ultraviolet! This actually warns birds that they taste horrible, because these are parasites who DON'T want to get eaten.

Myrmeconema neotropicum, on the other hand, DOES want to pass through a bird, so it changes the color of its ant host’s abdomen to look exactly like a ripe berry. Normally this ant would be all black!

Another worm that messes with ants is the lancet liver fluke, Dicrocoelium dendriticum. Snails pick up the parasites from infected animal feces, then spit them up in balls of mucus. Ants eat these mucus balls, and then, only at night when the sun won't bake them (and the worms) to death, the infected ants all climb up blades of grass and just cling there, waiting to get accidentally swallowed by a grazing mammal. If they don't get eaten, they continue about their regular ant life every day.

[seandunkley]

In my humble opinion, this may be the behaviour of an ant infected by a particular parasitic fluke, Dicrocoelium dendriticum.

The intended final host is, surprisingly, a grazing mammal.  It’s a rather elaborate sequence of events, as with many flukes [cheeky buggers]: -An infected mammal excretes the eggs in its feces. -A snail then eats said poo.  The eggs hatch and the larva are eventually secreted as cysts in the snail’s mucus trail. -A thirsty ant then comes along and sips some of this mollusc goo, cysts et al. -Cysts then release the juvenile flukes throughout the ant, infecting it and altering its behaviour. -Infected ants then spend the day clamped onto high vegetation, eg. grass blades, hoping to be nommed by a grazer.  I am assuming the top of a dandelion can do nicely as well. -Consumed ant then enters the digestive tract, helping the fluke reach its final destination, the liver and its surrounding ducts. -Rinse and repeat. I may be completely out to lunch on this, but I think it can be a likely reason for the ant’s odd behaviour.  Regardless, flukes are both fascinating and gross.

Why she do this? They’re just sticking their faces in the flower - no mandibular or antennal movement and I can’t see any indication that they’re getting nectar or anything

—

I have absolutely no idea! Can you please give me a location, so that (because I cannot ID her), other people might be able to?

As it stands, I appreciate her amazing handstand. 10/10, gold medal, congratulations, all that training paid off!

[professoraevelyn]

Parasitoides

"

O parasitismo é um tipo de interação ecológica que ocorre principalmente entre diferentes espécies, onde uma espécie parasita se associa a um ou vários indivíduos hospedeiros, causando-lhes prejuízo. Assim, o parasita pode ser definido como um organismo que obtém recursos através do hospedeiro, provocando danos e reduzindo sua aptidão sem causar, no entanto, morte imediata. Quando esse tipo de interação negativa, ou desarmônica, acarreta diretamente na morte do indivíduo hospedeiro ela passa a ser chamada de parasitoidismo. Os parasitoides são caracterizados por apresentar alta fecundidade, ciclos de vida curto e ainda interagirem de maneira bastante específica com seus hospedeiros.

A maioria dos parasitoides pertencem ao grupo dos insetos, principalmente às ordens Diptera (moscas) e Hymenoptera (vespas), e as fêmeas costumam depositar seus ovos sobre dos hospedeiros. Assim, ao eclodirem dos ovos, as larvas consomem o indivíduo hospedeiro que serve de recurso na fase inicial do desenvolvimento, matando-o muitas vezes antes dele se reproduzir pela primeira vez. Algumas vespas parasitoides pertencentes a subordem Apocrita apresentam um ovipositor utilizado para inserir os ovos no corpo do hospedeiro. Já a vespa da espécie Cotesia congregata deposita seus ovos nas larvas do inseto do tabaco, a mariposa Manduca sexta. Junto com os ovos, essa espécie injeta um vírus que derruba o sistema imunológico do hospedeiro, facilitando a invasão e eclosão dos ovos.

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É comum que o parasitoidismo modifique o comportamento da espécie hospedeira, facilitando o desenvolvimento e propagação do parasitoide e também estabelecendo uma relação de alta especificidade. Por exemplo, o verme trematódeo Dicrocoelium dendriticum infecta formigas na fase de metacercaria, atingindo seu cérebro e alterando seu comportamento, fazendo com que a formiga fique em cima das folhas ao invés de se proteger contra predadores e se torne mais fácil de ser ingerida por herbívoros. Nesse caso, os herbívoros como bovinos, ovinos, cervídeos e coelhos são o hospedeiro definitivo do parasitoide.

Classificação

Existem diversas formas de se classificar os organismos parasitoides. Em relação ao local de desenvolvimento, os indivíduos podem se desenvolver na superfície externa do hospedeiro, também chamados de ectoparasitoides, ou no interior do corpo do hospedeiro, conhecidos como endoparasitoides. Já em relação a fase de vida do hospedeiro, os parasitoides podem atacar e se desenvolver em ovos, larvas, pupas, ninfas e também no hospedeiro adulto. Em todos esses casos a exploração do hospedeiro pode acontecer de duas formas, classificando os parasitoides em idiobiontes, que inibem qualquer atividade e desenvolvimento do hospedeiro no momento da parasitação, e cenobiontes, que permitem que o hospedeiro se alimente e se desenvolva, morrendo posteriormente por conta da eclosão das larvas.

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Ao se desenvolver em hospedeiros não parasitados, o parasitoide também pode receber o nome de parasitoide primário. Em alguns casos, os parasitoides chamados secundários ou hiperparasitoides parasitam outros parasitoides, e costumam ser ingeridos por organismos já parasitados anteriormente. Por exemplo, as vespas fêmeas da família Trigonalidae ovipositam seus ovos em folhas que servirão de recurso alimentar para lagartas. Ao atingirem o sistema digestivo, perfuram a parede intestinal e procuram por outras larvas parasitoides para se alimentarem.

Controle biológico de pragas

Uma vez que a relação entre parasitoides e seus hospedeiros é bastante específica, é comum que pragas agrícolas sejam controladas naturalmente através do parasitoidismo. Vespas da família Ichneumonoidea e Braconidae parasitam respectivamente lagartas de borboletas e traças, e até mesmo afídeos. Em agrossistemas, como cultivos de café, algodão, soja, sorgo, feijão e trigo, são encontrados dezenas de famílias de parasitoides responsáveis pelo cultivo de pragas. A superfamília mais encontrada costuma ser a Chalcidoidea, uma vez que apresenta elevada diversidade de hospedeiros, como afídeos, moscas, lagartas e cochonilhas.

Referências Bibliográficas:

[1] Begon, M.; Townsend, C. R. & Harper, J. L. Ecology: from individuals to ecosystems. 4 ed. Reino Unido: Editora Blackwell Publishing Ltd, 759p., 2006.

[2] Parasitoid. Disponível em: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Parasitoid.

[3] Souza, L.; Braga, S.M.P; Campos, M.J.O. HIMENÓPTEROS PARASITÓIDES (INSECTA, HYMENOPTERA) EM ÁREA AGRÍCOLA DE RIO CLARO, SP, BRASIL. Arq. Inst. Biol., São Paulo, v. 73, n. 4, p. 465-469, 2006.

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[entomoblog]

Des fourmis transformées en zombies à cause de la technique imparable d’un parasite

Appelé « la douve du foie », ce parasite peut s’infiltrer dans le cerveau des fourmis pour prendre le contrôle de leur corps

  Science 18/09/2023 15:57

Par Sarafina Spautz

  [...]

Un mode de reproduction particulier

Lorsqu’une fourmi est infectée par la petite douve du foie, ce n’est pas un, mais des centaines de parasites qui envahissent le corps de l’insecte. Cependant, un seul d’entre eux ira se loger dans son cerveau afin d’influencer son comportement, les autres restent cachés dans son abdomen.

  « Il peut y avoir des centaines de petites douves du foie qui attendent que la fourmi les amène chez leur prochain hôte. Elles sont enveloppées dans une capsule qui les protège de l’acide gastrique de l’hôte (...) tandis que la douve du foie qui a pris le contrôle de la fourmi meurt. On pourrait dire qu’elle se sacrifie pour les autres », précise Brian Lund Fredensborg.

  Une fois que la fourmi est mangée par un mouton, une vache ou tout autre ruminant, la capsule qui protège les autres parasites se dissout et ces derniers se propagent dans les voies biliaires de l’animal, ce qui peut d’ailleurs provoquer des problèmes de foie. Puis, les petites douves du foie se développent et produisent des œufs qui se retrouvent dans les excréments du ruminant.

  Une fois sur le sol, il est facile pour ces œufs d’infecter un escargot. C’est à l’intérieur de celui-ci qu’ils vont se transformer en larves. Pour pouvoir passer de l’escargot à la fourmi, ces larves parasitaires vont faire tousser l’escargot qui va les expulser dans une boule de mucus. Or, les fourmis sont attirées par le mucus, elles ingèrent alors la petite douve du foie qui les infecte."

  [...]

  [Image] Fourmi disséquée et où l’on peut voir les parasites encapsulés (ovales blancs) s’échappant du corps postérieur. Crédit : Brian Lund Fredensborg

  -------

NDÉ

L'étude

  Expression of trematode-induced zombie-ant behavior is strongly associated with temperature | Behavioral Ecology, 24.08.2023 https://academic.oup.com/beheco/advance-article-abstract/doi/10.1093/beheco/arad064/7250300

  Parasite-induced modification of host behavior increasing transmission to a next host is a common phenomenon. However, field-based studies are rare, and the role of environmental factors in eliciting host behavioral modification is often not considered. We examined the effects of temperature, relative humidity (RH), time of day, date, and an irradiation proxy on behavioral modification of the ant Formica polyctena (Förster, 1850) by the brain-encysting lancet liver fluke Dicrocoelium dendriticum (Rudolphi, 1819). This fluke induces ants to climb and bite to vegetation by the mandibles in a state of temporary tetany. A total of 1264 individual ants expressing the modified behavior were observed over 13 non-consecutive days during one year in the Bidstrup Forests, Denmark. A sub-set of those ants (N = 172) was individually marked to track the attachment and release of infected ants in relation to variation in temperature. Infected ants primarily attached to vegetation early and late in the day, corresponding to low temperature and high RH, presumably coinciding with the grazing activity of potential herbivorous definitive hosts. Temperature was the single most important determinant for the induced phenotypic change. On warm days, infected ants altered between the manipulated and non-manipulated state multiple times, while on cool days, many infected ants remained attached to the vegetation all day. Our results suggest that the temperature sensitivity of the infected ants serves the dual purpose of exposing infected ants to the next host at an opportune time, while protecting them from exposure to high temperatures, which might increase host (and parasite) mortality.