There is a little, tiny tapeworm;
Anomotaenia brevis it's called.
Many people have studied this creature--
Some are amazed; some are appalled.

Needing to find a way to survive,
This tiny tapeworm seeks a host.
As it turns out, the woodpecker
Is the host it likes the most.

Certain ants like to collect
Woodpecker droppings. Is that surprising?
They feed the droppings to their larvae.
Yuck! Not so appetizing!

The droppings containing tapeworm eggs
Give some ants the parasite.
When they grow up to be adults,
Their behavior is not quite right.

The non-infected ants still feed them,
But they laze around, refusing to work.
Maybe their new behavior doesn't
Let them know where dangers might lurk.

The way they act increases the chances
That woodpeckers will eat them for dinner.
The question that people might have is this:
Who is the loser and who is the winner?

The birds eat the ants, become infected,
And leave their droppings, whereupon
The ants will feed their larvae the droppings.
The tapeworm cycle goes on and on.

How living forms have thus evolved
To use and be used in such odd ways
Shows the wonders of evolution--
Wonders that never cease to amaze.

-by Bob B (2-11-25)