Disgusting parasite found inside praying mantis:

YouTube

Anyone have a clue as to what that huge (relatively speaking) parasite actually is? How could the mantis be alive with something that large inside it?

Originally posted by sonhouse
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jhzFh_hs5Oc

Anyone have a clue as to what that huge (relatively speaking) parasite actually is? How could the mantis be alive with something that large inside it?

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nematomorpha

At least, that what it looks like to me.

Originally posted by Shallow Blue
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nematomorpha

At least, that what it looks like to me.

Probably Spinochordodes tellinii which is shown in an image scrolling down a bit. The Nematomorpha line are huge, some meters long so they would be unlikely to crawl into a praying mantis!

Still disgusting!