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this worm is yellow for an incredible reason! read on to learn more! . ok sorry, i lied. i don’t actually know why this worm is yellow. probably something boring like effective camouflage or some such in that vein.

Interesting As Facts by Christopher Kiss on Instagram: "聯 Parasitic horror inside a mantis Praying mantises can fall victim to horsehair worms—parasitic worms that control their host’s behavior. These parasites develop inside the mantis and, when the insect touches water, the worm emerges, sometimes longer than the mantis itself. It’s nature’s real-life body snatcher."

𝐇𝐈𝐒𝐓𝐎𝐑𝐘| 𝐈𝐍𝐅𝐎 | 𝐖𝐄𝐀𝐋𝐓𝐇 on Instagram: "You’re describing horsehair worms (also called Gordian worms, phylum Nematomorpha). 🪱 Larval stage: They live inside insects like mantises, crickets, or grasshoppers, quietly consuming nutrients without killing the host right away. 🧠 Behavior manipulation: When mature, they chemically or neurologically manipulate their host’s behavior, pushing it toward water. 🌊 Emergence: The worm then bursts out into the water, often fatally injuring or