Parasite Affects Instinctive Fear

A common single-cell pathogen (Toxoplasma gondii) removes the instinctive fear of predators (cats) in rodents, possibly permanently modifying a specific brain function as an evolutionary adaptation for the parasite, which can only reproduce sexually within the cat gut.

Disinfecting Wasp Larvae

A new study of the emerald cockroach wasp (Ampulex compressa) finds that the larvae laid on the host cockroach secrete the chemicals mullein and micromolide, both broad-spectrum antimicrobial agents that sterilize the host before it is consumed by the parasitic larvae.

Ancient Blood-Sucking Parasite

The unique discovery of an extinct genus of blood-sucking bat fly trapped in amber for 20 to 30 million years has revealed several key facts, including the specific co-evolution of bats and bat flies and the prevalence of malaria in the New World for millions of years.