Euchordodes
- Group: Chordodidae
Euchordodes are a family of horsehair worms known to scientists by the name of “chordodidae.” While one would assume a worm is not a big deal, you might need to make an exception for these little guys. Often found in New Zealand, many assume they just pop up around horses. That is not true nor untrue, it is just that it’s not that simple. In spite of being in a nation completely surrounded by saltwater all around it, this species is only known for being a freshwater parasite. This means that it would likely come across wildlife who drank from freshwater sources around the New Zealand territory.
From the map tracking resources, most of these parasites are located around Canterberry, Dunedin, & Southland. That means they’ll only be found in the warmest sectors of this nation, and likely not be spotted much in the northern portion. Stories about these parasites are horrific. They have been known to attach to insects that go on to commit suicide. The insects do not do this because they want to, the parasite takes them over to cause it. The Euchordodes quite literally eat everything inside the insect except only its vital organs. When it has enough, it takes over the insect’s brain to force them to kill themselves. Once they do, it just crawls out.