AI Summary

Earwigs are small, elongated insects with rear‑body pincers that normally avoid open water, preferring damp habitats instead. However, research has shown that European earwigs infected with the parasitic roundworm Mermis nigrescens display a marked tendency to move toward open water. This behavioral shift contrasts sharply with the species’ typical aversion to aquatic environments. The molecular and biological mechanisms driving this parasite‑induced water‑seeking behavior remain unresolved.

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