About this episode
Fleas, lice, tapeworms and ticks - these are all examples of parasites, living organisms that live on or in a host species and need this other organism to complete their complex life cycles. Sounds bad, but parasites are essential to a healthy ecosystem! And our guest for this episode says they’re also fascinating and even beautiful. Parasite ecologist Chelsea L. Wood, author of Power to the Parasites, tackles all your parasitic questions in this episode! They include: Why are there worms in our stomachs? Why do fleas bite cats and dogs? Where did head lice come from? Why do lice make you itch? Why do ticks suck our blood?
Download our learning guides: PDF | Google Slide | Transcript
Get every episode summarized
Each time But Why: A Podcast for Curious Kids publishes, we email you a written briefing from the transcript — the topics, who appeared, and any specific claims, with the ad reads skipped.
Email me new episodesFree for 3 shows. No card needed.
Hosts & guests
No transcript yet
This episode has not been transcribed. Request it and it moves to the front of the queue.
More episodes
More from But Why: A Podcast for Curious Kids

Why does my voice sound weird when it’s recorded?
But Why: A Podcast for Curious Kids

What are fossils?
But Why: A Podcast for Curious Kids

Where do constellations come from?
But Why: A Podcast for Curious Kids

Why does space have so many planets?
But Why: A Podcast for Curious Kids