hairworm

The parasite, known as a hairworm, lives and breeds in fresh water.

No one knows how, from its aquatic home, the hairworm manages to infect a terrestrial species.

The hairworm "will then develop, eating absolutely everything not essential to keep its host alive," Dr. Thomas said.

The nematomorph hairworm Spinochordodes tellinii is a parasitic worm whose larvae develop in orthopteran insects (grasshoppers and crickets).

The hairworm seems to have perfected an equally intimate manipulation of its host by inducing a fantastical desire to swim, of which the grasshopper is scarcely more capable than the worm is of flying.