Mermithidae
Sign in to saveMermithidae is a family of nematode worms that are endoparasites in arthropods. As early as 1877, Mermithidae was listed as one of nine subdivisions of the Nematoidea. Mermithidae are confused with the horsehair worms of the phylum Nematomorpha that have a similar life history and appearance.
Wikidata facts
- Instance of
- taxon
- Parent taxon
- Mermithida
- Image
- Mermis nigrescens on tettigonia viridissima beentree.jpg
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- P105
- family
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Article
6 sectionsContents
- Life history
- Host behavior alteration
- Association with iridoviruses
- Included genera
- References
- External links
Mermithidae is a family of nematode worms that are endoparasites in arthropods. As early as 1877, Mermithidae was listed as one of nine subdivisions of the Nematoidea. Mermithidae are confused with the horsehair worms of the phylum Nematomorpha that have a similar life history and appearance.
Mermithids are parasites, mainly of arthropods. Most are known from insects, but some are recorded from spiders, scorpions and crustaceans. A few are known to parasitize earthworms, leeches and molluscs, and a specimen is known from a spider preserved in Baltic amber.