Ep. 230 From alien wasps to zombie ants, parasites are all around | #GoodGrowing

It’s a Halloween Spooktacular! While they are usually overlooked, parasites are all around us. Check out this week’s Good Growing Podcast as we explore the complex, surprisingly common, and sometimes creepy world of parasites and parasitoids with Dr. Kacie Athey. Learn how these tiny creatures attack and manipulate their hosts, the difference between parasites, parasitoids, and diseases, discover mind-controlling fungi that infect insects, and more! Watch us on YouTube: Skip to what you want to know:    02:47 - Welcome, Dr. Kacie Athey!  04:46 – What are parasites? How are they different than diseases?  06:21 - What are some parasites we commonly encounter or affect humans?  09:59 - Parasites 'in the garden' - parasitoid wasps  17:22 - Parasitoid wasps and hornworm caterpillars  23:30 - Parasitoid wasps and aphids  25:37 - The (sometimes) bizarre world of hyperparasitoids.  37:33 - Cordyceps - The Last of Us comes to insects  44:28 - A few more examples of parasites manipulating host behavior  48:44 - A few parasitic plants  54:37 - Wrap-up, what’s up next week, and goodbye! Alabagrus kaciejoaeMistletoe Show: Learn about this holiday parasitic plant  Contact us! Chris Enroth: [email protected] Johnson: [email protected] Check out the Good Growing Blog: https://go.illinois.edu/goodgrowingSubscribe to the weekly Good Growing email: https://go.illinois.edu/goodgrowingsubscribe Any products or companies mentioned during the podcast are in no way a promotion or endorsement of these products or companies.  Barnyard Bash: freesfx.co.uk --You can find us on most podcast platforms.  iTunes - https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/good-growing/id1446630377     Tunein - https://tunein.com/podcasts/Gardening/Good-Growing-p1187964/  Spotify - https://open.spotify.com/show/202u3siWExE1tTqrVgtmCR    Vurbl - https://vurbl.com/station/good-growing-4pljnNlUtyG/    Listen notes - https://www.listennotes.com/podcasts/good-growing-chris-enroth-cHLPMWpvEOG/    Ivy - https://ivy.fm/podcast/good-growing-167902    Castbox - https://castbox.fm/channel/Good-Growing-id4302614?country=us