Tarantula Nematodes

[CritterKeeper79]

I don’t know if this is the proper place? I was listening to the latest Tom’s Big Spiders podcast and he brought this news up. https://www.livescience.com/tarantula-killing-nematode-jeff-daniels I’ve never heard of it before, sounds frightening. Glad they’re trying to find treatments. Odd how it doesn’t enter the T, just lives on it’s mouth. I wonder if it secretes some type of toxin, that changes the tarantulas behavior?

 

[Nurse Ratchet]

Officially terrified

 

[DustyD]

Yeah, I think I saw a video of this or another parasite in a spider. Very disturbing watching the parasite leaving the host's body.

Also, years ago I read about a very tiny parasite that gets into an ant's brain and takes over. The parasite has the ant climb onto the top of a blade of grass and had it wait there to be ingested by a cow so that the parasite can reproduce in one of the cow's stomachs.

 

[Nurse Ratchet]

Also, years ago I read about a very tiny parasite that gets into an ant's brain and takes over. The parasite has the ant climb onto the top of a blade of grass and had it wait there to be ingested by a cow so that the parasite can reproduce in one of the cow's stomachs.

Reminds me of the zombie snail parasite. Blah...

 

[octanejunkie]

How horrifying...

Best quote of the article linked:
"And of course, in Hollywood, you haven't really made it until you've been recognized by those in the field of parasitology."

 

[arachbiodude]

I did study parasites and the larva of nematomorphs are parasites of arthropods. The tarantula must be infected accidentally. The larva has to break open the arthropod and emerge near a body of water. Common name is horsehair snakes.

 

[CritterKeeper79]

I did study parasites and the larva of nematomorphs are parasites of arthropods. The tarantula must be infected accidentally. The larva has to break open the arthropod and emerge near a body of water. Common name is horsehair snakes.

Yes there’s a paper out saying, they think they come from contaminated substrate and gestate on the Tarantulas legs before moving to their mouth. I assume that’s what makes them tip toe?

 

[Arachnoclown]

I don’t know if this is the proper place? I was listening to the latest Tom’s Big Spiders podcast and he brought this news up. https://www.livescience.com/tarantula-killing-nematode-jeff-daniels I’ve never heard of it before, sounds frightening. Glad they’re trying to find treatments. Odd how it doesn’t enter the T, just lives on it’s mouth. I wonder if it secretes some type of toxin, that changes the tarantulas behavior?

This is my 40th year keeping Tarantulas and I've never had a spider with nematodes.

 

[CritterKeeper79]

This is my 40th year keeping Tarantulas and I've never had a spider with nematodes.

That’s a dang good run.

 

[Arachnoclown]

Next week's posts in the forum from all the new tarantula keepers....

 

[Nurse Ratchet]

Every new owners T (including mine), "Will you stop with the flash light already!? I don't have nematodes!"

 

[octanejunkie]

Next week's posts in the forum from all the new tarantula keepers....View attachment 63539

 

[CritterKeeper79]

Do you think this has nematodes?

 

[MBullock]

My friend fed his vinegaroon a jerusalem cricket and like 7 huge horsehair worms exploded out. It was one of the most disgusting things i have ever seen.

 

[CritterKeeper79]

My friend fed his vinegaroon a jerusalem cricket and like 7 huge horsehair worms exploded out. It was one of the most disgusting things i have ever seen.

I’ve seen videos of it, looks real nasty.

 

[Vermis]

I like just about any animal, but parasites make it hard work.

I remember doing a parasitology module in university, the lecturer had a particular photo he liked to show on the screen. A kid from a third world country was given a dose of anthelmintics, and the photo was of the aftermath. It's etched into my mind.

Think @Arachnoclown's photo, but other end.

 

[CritterKeeper79]

I like just about any animal, but parasites make it hard work.

I remember doing a parasitology module in university, the lecturer had a particular photo he liked to show on the screen. A kid from a third world country was given a dose of anthelmintics, and the photo was of the aftermath. It's etched into my mind.

Think @Arachnoclown's photo, but other end.

No wonder there’s a parasite cleanse fad, people drinking turpentine and crazy stuff.

 

[Oursapoil]

I think we might be seeing more and more of these in the hobby considering all the stocks of dewormer have been depleted here in United States

 

[octanejunkie]

We're building the super worm with all the dewormer in the water table... we need to start burning things as a cure like in the 1400's