horsehair worm

American  

noun

1. any long, slender worm of the phylum Nematomorpha, developing parasitically on insects and crustaceans, and free-living as adults in streams and ponds.

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horsehair worm British  

noun

1. another name for hairworm

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Etymology

Origin of horsehair worm

First recorded in 1745–55

Example Sentences

The matured horsehair worm finally induces the host to jump into water, often to the host's ultimate demise, so it can complete its life mission and reproduce.

From Science Daily

In particular, over 1,400 Chordodes horsehair worm genes were found to match those in mantises, but were absent or very different from species of horsehair worms that do not use mantis hosts.

From Science Daily

Once a horsehair worm reaches these hosts, it starts growing and manipulates the host's behavior.

From Science Daily

To answer this question, the researchers analyzed whole-body gene expression in a Chordodes horsehair worm before, during, and after manipulating its mantis host.

From Science Daily

"Strikingly, many of the horsehair worm genes that could play important roles in manipulating their hosts were very similar to mantid genes, suggesting that they were acquired through horizontal gene transfer," says Mishina.

From Science Daily