These Parasites are an Animal’s Worst Nightmare | Deep Look
From Deep Look.
Watch this video on YouTube ↗
Zombies, vampires and mind-controlling body snatchers aren’t just fantastical creatures from horror movies. In nature, a fungus can control the mind of a fruit fly, a hairworm can hijack a cricket’s brain and body, tiny vampire-like mites feast on honeybees, and a tiny parasite can sabotage a monarch butterfly’s metamorphosis.
00:00 Introduction
00:32 This fruit fly is infiltrated by a powerful parasite
04:34 This hairworm wants to be eaten
08:37 These tiny mites can kill a beehive
14:42 These parasites mess with monarchs
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---+ Find a transcript on KQED Science:
https://ww2.kqed.org/science/2026/10/27/body-snatchers-four-of-natures-freakiest-parasites/
---+ More great Deep Look episodes:
Copycats! This Ant Is Surrounded By Imposters
https://youtu.be/3tmPS1p-vEQ
Can You Spot These Insane Camouflaged Animals?
https://youtu.be/Gpvc5ZX5B08
5 Tiny Pests That Could Be In Your Home Right Now
https://youtu.be/xbW0dUfKOkk
---+ Thank you to our top Patreon supporters ($10+ per month)!
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Companion Cube
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Daisuke Goto
David Deshpande
Duane Westhoff
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Giancarlo Yzcali Lizarraga
J Schumacher
Jeremiah Sullivan
Julia
Karen Reynolds
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Louis O'Neill
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Funding for Deep Look is provided in part by PBS Digital Studios and the members of KQED.
#insects #wildlife #bugs #4kvideo #deeplook #kqed
00:00 Introduction
00:32 This fruit fly is infiltrated by a powerful parasite
04:34 This hairworm wants to be eaten
08:37 These tiny mites can kill a beehive
14:42 These parasites mess with monarchs
#deeplook #4knature #nature #4kvideo
👉 Donate to KQED, the public media station that makes Deep Look: https://donate.kqed.org/deeplook
SIGN UP for Deep Look’s newsletter, Nature Unseen: https://bit.ly/NatureUnseenSignUp
SUBSCRIBE: https://www.youtube.com/@KQEDDeepLook?sub_confirmation=1
---+ Find a transcript on KQED Science:
https://ww2.kqed.org/science/2026/10/27/body-snatchers-four-of-natures-freakiest-parasites/
---+ More great Deep Look episodes:
Copycats! This Ant Is Surrounded By Imposters
https://youtu.be/3tmPS1p-vEQ
Can You Spot These Insane Camouflaged Animals?
https://youtu.be/Gpvc5ZX5B08
5 Tiny Pests That Could Be In Your Home Right Now
https://youtu.be/xbW0dUfKOkk
---+ Thank you to our top Patreon supporters ($10+ per month)!
Name
Alex Butler
Bridget Kelly
Burt Humburg
Carrie Mukaida
Christopher Williams
Companion Cube
Craig Rosa
Cristen Rasmussen
Daisuke Goto
David Deshpande
Duane Westhoff
El Samuels
Elena De La Paz
Elizabeth Ann Ditz
Giancarlo Yzcali Lizarraga
J Schumacher
Jeremiah Sullivan
Julia
Karen Reynolds
KayLa
Laurel Przybylski
Levi Cai
Louis O'Neill
manamonarch
Marilyn Schiffman
Mehdi
Noreen Herrington
R
Roberta K Wright
STEPHANIE DOLE
The Mighty X
Titania Juang
Wade Tregaskis
Wised1000
wormy boi
xkymon
---+ Follow Deep Look and KQED Science on social:
TikTok: / deeplookofficial
Patreon: / deeplook
Instagram: / kqedscience
Twitter/X: / kqedscience
---+ About KQED: KQED, an NPR and PBS member station in San Francisco, serves Northern California and beyond with a public-supported alternative to commercial TV, radio and web media.
Funding for Deep Look is provided in part by PBS Digital Studios and the members of KQED.
#insects #wildlife #bugs #4kvideo #deeplook #kqed
