Researchers have found a microscopic worm species that kills and infects insects

 The worms are called nematodes, they can manage crop pests in warm, humid environments where other potential nematodes do not currently thrive. The study was published in the Journal of Parasitology. These worms have the ability to manage crop pests in warm, humid environments where other beneficial nematodes do not currently thrive.

This study was published in the Journal of Parasitology. The new species belongs to the Steinernema family of nematodes, which has long been employed in agriculture to treat insect parasites without the use of pesticides. Steinernema are harmless to humans and other mammals were discovered in the 1920s.

According to media reports, to gain a deeper understanding of a different Steinernema species, Dillman’s laboratory requested samples from colleagues in Thailand. As juveniles, nematodes live in the soil with sealed mouths, in a state of arrested development. In that stage, they wander the soil, looking for insects to infect, once they find a victim, they enter the mouth or anus and defecate highly pathogenic bacteria.

Going forward, the researchers hope to discover the nematode’s unique properties and further development.