The parasite is known as the green-banded broodsac (Leucochloridium paradoxum) and it infects its host’s eyestalks and makes them look like the caterpillars that birds prey on in Europe and North America. Infected snails have a deficit in light detection and so do not seek dark areas to avoid predation. Birds eat the infected snails’ eyestalks and then become the host for the parasite; if the snail is not dead it will grow back the eyestalks, but they will be infected. The parasite lays eggs inside the bird which are then distributed in the faeces of the bird host. Snails then feed upon the bird faeces on leaves, and the parasitic flatworm larvae hatch inside the snail’s gut; eventually some will invade the snail’s eyestalks and the cycle will continue.
Posted on: Fri, 13 Sep 2013 19:24:52 +0000
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