Now on ScienceBlogs: Oldest Human-Made Object in Space

ScienceBlogs Book Club: Inside the Outbreaks

Greg Laden's Blog

Evolution, Life Sciences, Science Education, Human Evolution, and Stuff

Darwing_Face.jpg Learn more about Charles Darwin and his work.

Hornbill170.jpg Looking for stuff about birds?

Lion_mane170.jpg Lean more about lions

Congo_sidebar.jpg An archaeological expedition to the Congo


The Skeptical Search Engine


Nature Blog Network
Climate Defense Fund


The contents of Greg Laden's Blog are copyrighted by Greg Laden.

Recent Comments

Search

Profile


Click on "About" for the big picture, and "Archives" for the details.


Recent Posts

Blogroll

If you don't see yourself on my blogroll, just drop me a line and let me know. I'll add you.*
*Assuming that I'm on your blogroll, of course!

Archives

« FSM Manifestation | Main | Million Book Project Flawed? »

Behavioral Manipulation by a Parasite

Category: Behavioral Biology
Posted on: November 27, 2007 12:47 PM, by Greg Laden

I almost drank one of these things once (accidentally):

Share on Facebook
Share on StumbleUpon
Share on Facebook
Find more posts in: Life Science

TrackBacks

TrackBack URL for this entry: http://scienceblogs.com/mt/pings/55286

Comments

1

I'd stay away from the Washington Ave. bridge until I was sure... Fascinating and very creepy at the same time. I could see where this would really change the way we think about malaria vectors.

Posted by: Puskala | November 27, 2007 1:40 PM

2

How do you know you nearly swallowed one?

Posted by: Monado | November 27, 2007 7:12 PM

3

It was in the cup of water I was drinking.

Posted by: Greg Laden | November 27, 2007 8:04 PM

4

Daniel Dennett often uses a similar example in talks he gives; a parasite (can't remember the name right now) that causes ants to climb to the top of blades of grass or other plants that make them more likely to end up in the stomach of a sheep /cow or other ruminant where the parasite then reproduces.

Posted by: Christopher | November 28, 2007 7:58 AM

5

finally! an airtight excuse that can explain away nearly any lapse in judgement that i might be called out on.

Posted by: tenspeed | November 28, 2007 6:27 PM

6

woah! that was a close one. i know of a parasite Microphalllus which controls the behavior of its snail host Potamopyrgus antipodarumand another, Blatillaria i guess which manipulates the behavior of another snail. articles are at http://scipdf.blogspot.com

Posted by: chammy | October 20, 2008 3:01 AM

Post a Comment

(Email is required for authentication purposes only. On some blogs, comments are moderated for spam, so your comment may not appear immediately.)





ScienceBlogs

Search ScienceBlogs:

Go to:

Advertisement
Follow ScienceBlogs on Twitter

© 2006-2011 ScienceBlogs LLC. ScienceBlogs is a registered trademark of ScienceBlogs LLC. All rights reserved.