Parasitic Collection (#6)

Human Louse, a wingless parasitic insect. Engraving from Robert Hooke Micrographia London 1665. Now known to be vector for Epidemic typhus

The Flea. Engraving from Robert Hooke Micrographia London 1665. Wingless bloodsucking, parasitic insect. Human flea (Pulex irritans) can transmit plague

Typical enlarged spleen of a Malaria patient. Malaria is caused by a parasitic protozoa transmitted by the Anopheles mosquito, Until the 1930s the only effective treatment was the drug Quinine

Sheep farming, dipping ewes with insecticide to kill lice and mites, North Yorkshire, England, September

Sheep farming, farmer reading instructions on Zermex medicine packet to treat parasites, with Swaledale sheep, Cumbria, England, April

Great Spotted Cuckoo with an hairy caterpillar, Extremadura Spain

Great Spotted Cuckoo Extremadura Spain

Yellow Lousewort (Pedicularis condensata) flowering, Pontic Mountains, Anatolia, Turkey, July

Maltese Fungus (Cynomorium coccineum var. coccineum) close-up of flowering inflorescence, Sardinia, Italy, April

Bonnet Mould (Spinellus fusiger) hair-like sporangiophore threads, growing from gills of parasitised fungus, Clumber Park, Nottinghamshire, England, September

Scarlet Caterpillar Fungus (Cordyceps militaris) fruiting bodies, growing in woodland, Powys, Wales, November

Mistletoe (Viscum album) very young seedling, with seed-leaves growing on apple bark, Dorset, England, January

Ghost Orchid (Epipogium aphyllum) flowering, growing in deep shade woodland, Bavaria, Germany, July

Common Broomrape (Orobanche minor) flowering, College Lake Nature Reserve, Hertfordshire, England, June

Ivy Broomrape (Orobanche hederae) flowering, parasitic on ivy, growing in upland habitat, Picos de Europa, Cantabrian Mountains, Spain, June

Common Broomrape (Orobanche minor) flowerspikes, growing in wildflower meadow, Oxfordshire, England, May

Yellow Bird s-nest (Monotropa hypopitys) flowering, Davenport Wood, Buckinghamshire, England, July

Chamomile Shark (Cucullia chamomillae) adult, with parasitic mites on antenna, resting on lichen covered twig, Cannobina Valley, Italian Alps, Piedmont, Northern Italy, June

Tachinid Fly (Alophora hemiptera) adult, feeding on Hemp Agrimony (Eupatorium cannabinum) flowers, Hampshire, England, July

Cranefly (Tipulidae sp. ) adult, infested with parasitic mites, Cannobina Valley, Italian Alps, Piedmont
Cranefly (Tipulidae sp.) adult, infested with parasitic mites, Cannobina Valley, Italian Alps, Piedmont, Northern Italy, July

Eastern Velvet Ant (Mutilla europaea) wingless adult female, walking over bare soil, Oare Marshes Nature Reserve, Kent, England, September

Emerald Cockroach Wasp (Ampulex compressa) larva, attached to American Cockroach (Periplaneta americana) host, South Asia, Africa and Pacific Islands (controlled conditions)

Emerald Cockroach Wasp (Ampulex compressa) egg, just deposited on American Cockroach (Periplaneta americana) host, South Asia, Africa and Pacific Islands (controlled conditions)

Emerald Cockroach Wasp (Ampulex compressa) adult male, South Asia, Africa and Pacific Islands (controlled conditions)

Sheep Tick (Ixodes ricinus) nymph, resting on leaf, Sussex, England, June

Sheep Tick (Ixodes ricinus) adult, full of ingested blood

Harvestman (Opiliones sp. ) adult, with parasitic mites attached to legs, Cannobina Valley, Italian Alps, Piedmont
Harvestman (Opiliones sp.) adult, with parasitic mites attached to legs, Cannobina Valley, Italian Alps, Piedmont, Northern Italy, July

American Cockroach (Periplaneta americana) adult, grooming in response to being stung by Emerald Cockroach Wasp (Ampulex compressa)

Common Bedbug (Cimex lectularius) adult, sucking blood from human skin, Italy, July

Common Bedbug (Cimex lectularius) egg, Italy, July

Sebrees Dwarfgoby (Eviota sebreei) adult, with parastitic growth, resting on coral, Lembeh Straits, Sulawesi, Sunda Islands, Indonesia, September

Large Whip Goby (Bryaninops amplus) adult, with female parasitic copepod with pair of egg sacs, resting on whip coral, Lembeh Straits, Sulawesi, Sunda Islands, Indonesia, September

Domestic Sheep, mule ewe, affected by Sheep Scab (Psoroptic Mange) caused by Psoroptes mites, grazing in pasture, Lancashire, England, March

Beech Gallwasp (Mikiola fagi) galls, on Common Beech (Fagus sylvatica) leaf, France, August

Gall Wasp (Andricus gemmeus) galls, on Oak (Quercus sp. ) sapling, Clumber Park, Nottinghamshire, England, September
Gall Wasp (Andricus gemmeus) galls, on Oak (Quercus sp.) sapling, Clumber Park, Nottinghamshire, England, September

Gall Midge (Jaapiella veronicae) gall, on Germander Speedwell (Veronica chamaedrys), Dorset, England, September

Cuban Blackbird (Dives atroviolaceus) five adults, feeding, picking parasites from horse, La Belen, Camaguey Province, Cuba, March

Carrot infested with carrot fly, close-up

Model of mosquito feeding off human blood

Beetroot leaf infested with blackflies, close-up

Using secateurs to cut Viscum album (Common mistletoe) from branch of tree

Caterpillar of Leek moth (Acrolepiopsis assectella) on stem, close-up

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"Exploring the Intricate World Creatures: From Gastrointestinal Nematodes to Eyelash Mites" Delving into the hidden realm of parasites, we encounter gastrointestinal nematodes, microscopic worms that reside in the intestines of various animals. Behold the intricate head structure of a dog tapeworm under scanning electron microscopy (SEM), revealing its remarkable adaptation for survival within its host. Zooming in even closer, SEM unveils the minuscule world of a head louse, showcasing its gripping claws and needle-like mouthparts used for feeding on human blood. Meet the sheep tick, an arachnid parasite found in grassy landscapes; SEM allows us to appreciate its formidable appendages designed for clinging onto hosts like sheep or deer. In our own eyelashes lies an unexpected inhabitant – the eyelash mite. SEM captures their tiny bodies and long tails as they navigate through this often overlooked ecosystem. Journeying deep into Sri Lanka's lush jungles reveals a diverse array organisms coexisting with their hosts amidst nature's beauty and complexity. Witnessing a female mosquito's internal anatomy while sucking blood from human skin through cross-section imagery sheds light on these pesky yet fascinating disease vectors. An illustrated depiction showcases the life cycle and morphology of tapeworms, highlighting their ability to adapt across different host species throughout their complex lifecycle. Examining eyelash mite tails under SEM unravels further mysteries about these elusive creatures that call our lashes home – truly captivating microcosms within ourselves. Venturing underwater brings us face-to-face with sea lampreys; whether it be Petromyzon marinus or other species like lamperns and silver lampreys - these jawless fish are notorious parasites known for attaching themselves to larger marine animals.