Abstract
Abstract The phylum Nematomorpha, the hairworms, occurs worldwide. All members are developmental parasites of aquatic or terrestrial invertebrates. One genus, Nectonema , is marine, whereas the remaining species occur in freshwater as free‐living stages or inside terrestrial hosts. Hairworms have two or more hosts in their life cycle. The first paratenic host is just a carrier to the second developmental host. In the developmental host, the hairworm grows to maturity and often kills the host upon emergence. There is no direct economic or medical importance of hairworms and while they can reach up to a foot in length, they are rarely seen. A few species may effect populations of herbivorous insects, but most are not important as biological control agents. Most freshwater hairworms are threatened from polluted waters, habitat displacement and reduced host populations. Many could be considered as candidates for the Red Data Book of rare and endangered species. Hairworms are a relict group that is not closely related to any other living phylum. The preparasitic larvae are quite different from the adults since they possess spines for entering the body cavity of paratenic hosts. Once inside the paratenic host, the larva is surrounded by host tissue and is known as an ‘encysted’ larva. It remains in the cyst until the paratenic host is ingested by a suitable developmental host. If the second host is not suitable for development, the hairworm larvae can encyst again in the new paratenic host. Key Concepts: Hairworms are becoming endangered in many areas of the world. Hairworms have attracted the attention of behaviourists who study how these parasites control the movements of their hosts. Hairworms have no direct economic or medical importance. Hairworms have the ability to arrest development in nondevelopmental hosts. Hairworms are an enigmatic group that are not closely related to any other invertebrates. Hairworms are an ancient group, with fossils dating back to the Early Cretaceous.
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