Summary
A hairworm grows inside a cricket, then makes the cricket leap into water so the worm can escape and reproduce. Deep Look reveals one of nature's strangest survival strategies.
Viewer safety
This episode shows a predator catching and eating real prey (a normal part of nature science) -- preview if that might unsettle your class.
Our rating is a quick teacher-to-teacher guide — preview before showing.
Teaching resources
Discussion questions
Talk about it
A hairworm larva is eaten by a cricket and grows long inside it. When it's ready, chemicals from the worm push the cricket to jump into water, where the worm wriggles out to lay eggs. Controlling the host is a trait that gives the parasite a big survival advantage.
- What does the hairworm make the cricket do, and why?
- How does controlling its host help the worm survive?
- Why is this an example of a survival trait, even though it harms the cricket?
Quick work-a-long
Vocabulary: parasite, host, control, advantage.
Try it: Draw a cricket with a worm inside, then jumping to water. Write how mind control helps the parasite survive.