Our world is full of bizarre and intriguing creatures. One of the strangest, though, is the hairworm, a parasitic worm known as a "mind control worm" in some circles. These parasitic worms are found ...

Parasitic hairworms manipulate the behavior of their hosts in what's sometimes called 'mind control.' A new study reveals another strange trait shared by different hairworm species: they're missing ...

(CNN) — Threadlike worms living in the guts of certain insects make their hosts jump into water and drown. What scientists knew about these parasites resembling strands of spaghetti was already pretty ...

Forbes contributors publish independent expert analyses and insights. I write about biodiversity and the hidden quirks of the natural world. Imagine a common ant scouring its habitat for food when it ...

Parasitic horsehair worms that dwell in the guts of praying mantises compel their hosts to walk to water and drown themselves. Now, scientists have discovered the secret to these worms' horrifying ...

Hairworms are parasites with a killing strategy so extreme it looks like mind control. After developing inside an insect host, the worm triggers behavioral changes that drive the victim toward water.

Editor’s note: Sign up for CNN’s Wonder Theory science newsletter. Explore the universe with news on fascinating discoveries, scientific advancements and more. The larvae infest arthropods, such as ...