Parasitised Collection

Slender Spongegoby (Phyllogobius platycephalops) adult, with parasite and egg case attached, resting on sponge, Padar Island, Komodo N.P. Lesser Sunda Islands, Indonesia, March

Larval scales of cabbage whitefly, Aleyrodes proletella, parasitised by a parasitoiid wasp, Encarsia tricolor, for commercial biological control

The exit hole of a parasitoid wasp, Metaphycus helvolus, in the shell of its scale insect host

The exit hole of a parasitoid wasp, Encyrtus infelix, in the shell of its scale insect host

Bonnet Mould (Spinellus fusiger) hair-like sporangiophore threads, growing from gills of parasitised fungus, Clumber Park, Nottinghamshire, England, September

Harvestman (Opiliones sp. ) adult, with parasitic mites attached to legs, Cannobina Valley, Italian Alps, Piedmont
Harvestman (Opiliones sp.) adult, with parasitic mites attached to legs, Cannobina Valley, Italian Alps, Piedmont, Northern Italy, July

Parasitised garden tiger caterpillar (Arctia caja). The caterpillar is covered in the cocoons of parasitic braconid wasp larvae

Fungus parasitising a fly. Close-up of a fly that has been killed by the parasitic fungus Entomophthora muscae. This fungus is highly adapted to its host

White-clawed Freshwater Crayfish (Austropotamobius italicus) adult male, close-up of claw with Parasitic Annelid (Branchiobdella astaci) ectoparasites attached, Italy, july

Common Spangle Gall Wasp (Neuroterus quercusbaccarum) galls, on underside of Oak (Quercus sp. ) leaf
Common Spangle Gall Wasp (Neuroterus quercusbaccarum) galls, on underside of Oak (Quercus sp.) leaf, Downe Bank Nature Reserve, North Downs, Kent, England, august

Net-winged Beetle (Platycis minutus) adult, covered in parasitic mites, Brede High Woods, West Sussex, England, september

Western Green Lizard (Lacerta bilineata) adult, close-up of skin with two ticks attached, Italy

Fungus (Clavicipitaceae sp. ) fruiting bodies, emerging from dead parasitized troglophile moth
Fungus (Clavicipitaceae sp.) fruiting bodies, emerging from dead parasitized troglophile moth, Grotta delle Vene (Veins Cave), Ormea, Cuneo Province, Piedmont, Italy, january

Sac Fungus (Cordyceps sp. ) fruiting bodies emerging from dead parasitized Spider (Ctenidae sp. ), Manu Road
Sac Fungus (Cordyceps sp.) fruiting bodies emerging from dead parasitized Spider (Ctenidae sp.), Manu Road, Departemento Cuzco, Andes, Peru

Leech (Hirudinea sp. ) adult, parasitizing Atlantic Stream Crayfish (Austropotamobius pallipes) underwater, Italy
Leech (Hirudinea sp.) adult, parasitizing Atlantic Stream Crayfish (Austropotamobius pallipes) underwater, Italy

Ichneumon Wasp (Ichneumonoidea sp. ) cocoons, on fritillary butterfly larva, Causse de Gramat, Massif Central, Lot
Ichneumon Wasp (Ichneumonoidea sp.) cocoons, on fritillary butterfly larva, Causse de Gramat, Massif Central, Lot, France, may

Eyebar Goby (Gnatholepsis anjerensis) adult, with parasite on head, Mabul Island, Sabah, Borneo, Malaysia

Sac Fungus (Cordyceps tuberculata) fruiting bodies emerged from dead parasitized moth, Manu Road, Departemento Cuzco, Andes, Peru

Dance Fly (Empis tessellata) adult, fallen victim to Pathogenic Fungus (Entomophthora muscae) that enters brain and causes it to land, climb to the top of bush and die

Knopper gall on acorn. Close-up of two acorns from an Pedunculate Oak (Quercus robur) tree. The lower one has been infected by the parasitic larva of a gall wasp (Andricus quercuscalicis)

Plant parasite, light micrograph
Plant parasite. Polarised light micrograph of a transverse section through a plant stem (left) entwined by the common dodder (Cuscuta sp.) parasitic plant (round, right)

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In the intricate web of nature's tapestry, even the smallest creatures can fall victim to parasitic invaders. A Buff-tailed Bumblebee buzzes through a garden in Sowerby, unaware of the tiny mites that have taken residence on its head. The once vibrant and proud Shorthead Sabretooth Blenny now carries an unwanted hitchhiker on its head as it navigates the Lembeh Straits in Sulawesi. Resting peacefully on a sponge, a Slender Spongegoby finds itself burdened by both a parasite and an egg case attached to its delicate body. Meanwhile, a small white butterfly caterpillar named Pieris rapae becomes host to Cotesia glomerata, a parasitoid wasp that lays its eggs within the unsuspecting larva. The cabbage whitefly larvae face their own battle against Encarsia tricolor, another parasitoid wasp species. Their tiny scales become home to these relentless invaders who emerge victorious through exit holes left behind in their shell-like armor. Even fungi are not spared from being parasitized; Bonnet Mould sprouts hair-like sporangiophore threads from the gills of fungus it has invaded. In Cannobina Valley of Italian Alps' Piedmont region, Harvestman spiders find themselves carrying uninvited guests - parasitic mites cling onto their legs as they scuttle about. As if life underwater isn't challenging enough for Darkfin Chromis swimming near Muara Channel in Sermata Islands, they must also contend with parasites latching onto their heads. And finally, even innocent garden tiger caterpillars are not immune to becoming victims of parasites lurking within their fragile bodies. These captivating images serve as reminders that no creature is exempt from nature's complex interplay between predator and prey. From buzzing bees to fluttering butterflies and everything in between – all living beings can be "parasitised" in their own unique way.