Shocking Bounce: Worm uses electricity to hunt insects!

Shocking Bounce: Worm uses electricity to hunt insects!

Did you know that a tiny worm has the potential to become the next star in biological pest control? The parasitic wormSteinernema carpocapsaeNot only does it impress with its ability to jump up to 25 times its height, but it also has a pretty remarkable strategy for catching flying insects. Science Daily reports that this worm was examined in a study at Emory University and the University of California, Berkeley. It turned out that it uses electrostatic mechanisms to attract its prey.

The exciting research, published in the prestigious journal PNAS, shows that a combination of higher voltage and light wind significantly increases this worm's success rate when jumping on insects. Insect wings generate an electrical field of several hundred volts, which increases the attraction to the worm and allows it to strike specifically.

The worm's jumping techniques

As part of the study, interesting experiments were carried out that examined the worm's jumping mechanics. High-resolution microscopy was used, which enabled the researchers to film the jumping processes. The worm curls up into a loop and then catapults itself into the air. Digital analysis of its jumping trajectories using the Markov Chain Monte Carlo algorithm has unraveled the mechanisms behind this astonishing behavior. Without the electrostatic forces, jumping behavior would not make sense from an evolutionary perspective, according to the researchers.

In addition, the worm is not just a voracious hunter. It possesses symbiotic bacteria which it introduces into the body of the captured insect and which eventually kills the insect. The nematodes can be found in soils worldwide, except in the polar regions, and are already used in biological pest control.

Getting started with biological control

But the world of biological pest control has even more to offer. Another interesting contribution comes from a study on nematodes, according to which these parasites cause agricultural damage worldwide worth up to 120 billion euros annually. KIT highlights that researchers are working on using natural opponents of these nematodes. Nematode-trapping fungi show promising potential as biocontrol agents by attracting the nematodes and overcoming their defense responses.

A research group at KIT has investigated the role of certain proteins in capturing nematodes. The results were published in the journal PLoS Pathogens. After the fungi have caught the worms, they penetrate their bodies and release cell-dissolving proteins that the worms digest. Particularly noteworthy is a small protein factor that has been identified as a newly discovered virulence factor and could offer promising approaches for the development of new treatments.

Fascinating developments for agriculture that are both environmentally friendly and can hopefully counteract the serious problem of pests. Such innovations could bring real added value and show that even the smallest organisms can achieve great things.

Trends in Parasitology provides further insights into the useful properties of entomopathogenic nematodes and their symbiosis in agriculture. With this knowledge from research, farmers can get a good handle on developing sustainable farming methods while increasing yields.