Connecticut State Parasite Initiative
Many States have a State bird, State fish, State flower, State insect… but what about a State parasite? For a group that makes up over 50% of living animals, parasites have yet to be represented at that symbolic level in any State!
As part of an award from the National Science Foundation to curate and database the thousands of parasite specimens in the Biodiversity Research Collections at the University of Connecticut, in collaboration with the Connecticut State Museum of Natural History, we are launching the Connecticut State Parasite Initiative. This competition aims to engage the people of Connecticut, and pre-College students in particular, with the wonderful world of parasites that resides right here in the vertebrates of our State. The ultimate goal of the initiative is to succeed in convincing our State Legislature to adopt a State parasite.
Help make Connecticut the first State to have a State parasite by participating in the contest!
Meet the Parasites!
We’ve identified six candidate parasite species that are found in a variety of different animals in Connecticut, all of which have interesting aspects to their biology. Click below for more information on each candidate parasite.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is a Parasite?
A parasite is an organism that is physically associated with at least one host at some point in its life; the host is an organism of another species. This association is relatively long-term, has a nutritional basis, and has the potential to harm the host.
What is a Host?
A host is an organism which, at any point in its life, is home to a parasite either on or inside its body.
Do parasites kill their hosts?
Although many parasites cause harm to their hosts, it is uncommon for parasites to kill their host because they rely on their host for their survival, including both for food and shelter.
Are there positive features of parasites?
Yes! Parasites have contributed significantly to our understanding of human health, ecosystem health, and pest control.
What is an infective stage?
An infective stage is any stage in the life cycle of a parasite that is able to successfully enter or attach to and survive in or on a host.
What does the term “pathology” mean?
Pathology is the harm to its host caused by a parasite.