Movies

Here are a few videos taken in our lab

Real time movie of Paragordius varius worms exiting Acheta domesticus cricket hosts. Hosts were laboratory infected. Video was taken 28 days post-exposure. The cricket in the video was ~20mm (<1 inch) in length. From this cricket, we collected 3 female and 4 male worms; worms were an average length of 22cm (~14 inches). Yes, the cricket survived the infection, and produced eggs a few weeks later.

Real time movie of Gordius sp. hairworm larva actively trying to penetrate through an insect gut. The next step in the life cycle is the formation of a cyst. For additional information on the life cycle, click here.

Hairworm found in a pet's water dish after emerging from beetle host. Video was submitted to us by R. Preston and collected by E. M. Preston from central California, USA. To learn more about whether hairworms are dangerous to humans or pets, click here.