Bull's-eye! Static electricity pulls worm through air to its insect victim: Electrostatic charges may help roundworms infect a wide variety of hosts.

  • Published In: Sciencemag.org, 2025. P. N.PAG 1 of 3

  • Database: Applied Science & Technology Source Ultimate 2 of 3

  • Authored By: Dinh, Jason P. 3 of 3

Abstract

The article discusses how electrostatic charges assist the roundworm species Steinernema carpocapsae in effectively infecting various insect hosts. Researchers found that these tiny roundworms can leap up to 10 millimeters in the air, guided by the electrostatic charge of their targets, which significantly increases their chances of successful attachment and infection. The study involved tethering fruit flies to copper wires to manipulate their electrostatic charge, demonstrating that the roundworms successfully landed on charged hosts, while contact was rare without this charge. This finding highlights the broader ecological role of static electricity in animal interactions, similar to its effects on pollen and spider webs. [Extracted from the article]

Additional Information

  • Source:Sciencemag.org. 2025/10, pN.PAG
  • Document Type:Article
  • Subject Area:Anatomy and Physiology
  • Publication Date:2025
  • Accession Number:188780201
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