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Updated: Sep 10, 2026

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A Visual Guide for Studying Behavioral Defenses to Pathogen Attacks in Leaf-Cutting Ants
Published on: October 12, 2018
Reversible summitting behaviour of Dicrocoelium-infected ants
Cameron P Goater1, James D Wasmuth2, Chen-Hua Li3
1Department of Biological Sciences, University of Lethbridge, Lethbridge, Alberta, Canada.
Trends in Parasitology
|September 8, 2026
Abstract:
Dicrocoelium dendriticum (Trematoda) larvae cause their ant hosts to attach themselves to a plant with their mandibles. Infected ants detach a few hours later, then repeat the attach/detach sequence over subsequent days. Recognition of reversibility in altered host behaviours can enhance our understanding of the general phenomenon of host manipulation.

