Parasites : Discovery News

First 'Vampire' Bat Fly Fossil Discovered

Posted Fri Feb 3, 2012 02:48 PM ET | 0

A rare fossil shows that bat flies have been parasitizing the winged mammals for at least 20 million years. Read more

Harrowing Dog Tales Shed Light on Mexico's Strays

Posted by Jennifer Viegas Fri Jan 13, 2012 12:49 PM ET | 0

Mexico's economy has made life even harder for the country's stray dogs. But there's a way you can help. Read more

Harrowing Dog Tales Shed Light on Mexico's Strays

Fly Parasite Turns Honey Bees Into 'Zombies'

Posted Thu Jan 5, 2012 11:20 AM ET | 0

The parasites that cause the transformation may provide a clue to the mysterious colony collapse disorder. Read more

Tiny Human Hairs Beat Back Bugs

Posted by Jennifer Viegas Tue Dec 13, 2011 07:00 PM ET | 0

The short, fine hair on our bodies turns out to be quite useful when it comes to fooling bugs and parasites. Read more

Mite Fossilized While Sucking on Spider's Head

Posted by Jennifer Viegas Tue Nov 8, 2011 02:06 PM ET | 0

About 49 million years ago, a mite decided to hitch a ride on a spider's head; then a blop of tree resin fell on them. Read more

Mite Fossilized While Sucking on Spider's Head

'Promising' Step for World's First Malaria Vaccine

Posted Tue Oct 18, 2011 06:15 PM ET | 0

The vaccine, in development for more than 25 years, now gets most of its support from the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation. Read more

Parasite Gives Rats A Cat Pee Fetish

Posted by Tim Wall Mon Aug 22, 2011 03:51 PM ET | 0

The Toxoplasma parasite overwrites an infected rat's brain to make him want to linger in the odor of cat urine. Read more

Attacking Malaria with Spermless Mosquitoes

Posted by Marianne English Wed Aug 10, 2011 11:25 AM ET | 0

In an effort to slow the spread of malaria, scientists are trying to go to the source -- by stopping how mosquitoes reproduce. Read more

Attacking Malaria with Spermless Mosquitoes

Cancers Might Be Newly Evolved Species

Posted by Jennifer Viegas Wed Jul 27, 2011 12:55 PM ET | 0

Cancerous tumors are parasitic organisms, new species, that depend on their host for food, says a new study. Read more

Mosquitoes Fooled by Smelly Molecules

Posted Wed Jun 1, 2011 01:58 PM ET | 0

Confusing blood-thirsty mosquitoes with low-cost chemicals could be a powerful new tool to fight the spread of malaria. Read more

Daytime Bites for Zombie Ants

Posted Tue May 17, 2011 11:24 AM ET | 0

Most ants in the grip of a deadly fungus spend their last moments on Earth around midday. Read more

Bug Turns Pest Into Supermom

Posted by Tim Wall Tue Apr 12, 2011 05:52 AM ET | 0

Many sweet potato whiteflies are coming down with an infection that turns them into supermoms, a bane for farmers. Read more

Shark Cleaning Stations Identified

Posted by Jennifer Viegas Fri Mar 18, 2011 01:55 PM ET | 0

Like cars lined up at a car wash, sharks and rays gather to rid themselves of dead skin and parasites. Read more

Deadly Fungus Turns Ants Into Zombies

Posted Thu Mar 3, 2011 12:22 PM ET | 0

A new type of parasitic fungus takes control of ants by burrowing in their brains. Read more

40-Million-Year-Old Sex Act Captured in Amber

Posted by Jennifer Viegas Tue Mar 1, 2011 10:37 AM ET | 0

Just as a pair of mites began to mate, a blob of tree resin fell upon them, preserving the moment for eternity. Read more

Parasites