# Can you identify this parasite?

**URL:** <https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-you-identify-this-parasite/32086>\
**Category:** Factual Questions\
**Created:** [September 5, 2000, 2:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-you-identify-this-parasite/32086 "2000-09-05T14:17:26Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 3\
**Page:** 1

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**Author:** ![Earl\_Snake-Hips\_Tucker](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/earl_snake-hips_tucker/32/3269_2.png) [@Earl\_Snake-Hips\_Tucker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Earl_Snake-Hips_Tucker)\
**Post date:** [September 5, 2000, 2:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-you-identify-this-parasite/32086/1 "2000-09-05T14:17:26Z")

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I saw a program on Discovery or TLC a few years ago, and I think the whole program was about parasites.

Here was one weird one, but I’m fuzzy on the details:

Some “bug” lays its egg in a slug, snail, or caterpillar (don’t remember which).

The “bug” grows inside it, and ends up pushing against the caterpillar’s “skin” like two big, thick, throbbing antennae.

I don’t remember whether or not it ended up killing the caterpillar or not. The one that they showed was quickly gobbled up by a bird, since the throbbing members made it stand out a lot more.

Any ideas???

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**Author:** ![yabob](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/yabob/32/2821_2.png) [@yabob](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/yabob)\
**Post date:** [September 5, 2000, 3:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-you-identify-this-parasite/32086/2 "2000-09-05T15:02:56Z")

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Snails. Leucochloridium paradoxum is the parasite. I saw that show, too. Quite a startling effect on the snail. The parasite completes its life cycle in the gut of birds, and the display is essentially a big “EAT ME” sign.

Reference:

[http://www.uic.edu/classes/osci/osci590/3\_1%20Pathogen%20Strategy%20for%20Survival.htm](http://www.uic.edu/classes/osci/osci590/3_1%20Pathogen%20Strategy%20for%20Survival.htm)

Section IV at the bottom of the page. Actually, the adult form’s eggs are excreted in the birds feces, and eaten by the snails. The parasite itself is a worm.

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**Author:** ![Earl\_Snake-Hips\_Tucker](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/earl_snake-hips_tucker/32/3269_2.png) [@Earl\_Snake-Hips\_Tucker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Earl_Snake-Hips_Tucker)\
**Post date:** [September 5, 2000, 3:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-you-identify-this-parasite/32086/3 "2000-09-05T15:46:27Z")

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Thanks.