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Electrostatic Leap: Nematodes' Shocking Survival Strategy Revealed

10/22/2025

23 4

Summary

Story summary

Parasitic nematodes use static electricity to leap onto fruit flies, increasing survival.
The worms can jump up to 25 times their body length with an 80% success rate when electrostatic forces are present.
The findings come from a study published in PNAS that used high-speed microscopy and experiments with charged fruit flies.
Experts say the work links ecology and physics and suggests an electrostatics-driven arms race between hosts and parasites.

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Story summary

Parasitic nematodes use static electricity to leap onto fruit flies, increasing survival.
The worms can jump up to 25 times their body length with an 80% success rate when electrostatic forces are present.
The findings come from a study published in PNAS that used high-speed microscopy and experiments with charged fruit flies.
Experts say the work links ecology and physics and suggests an electrostatics-driven arms race between hosts and parasites.