René's URL Explorer Experiment

{"@context":"http://schema.org","@type":"WebSite","@id":"www.mentalfloss.com","url":"https://www.mentalfloss.com","name":"Mental Floss","description":"Discover fun parasite facts, trivia, and surprising stories on Mental Floss—content that entertains, educates, and satisfies your curiosity.","publisher":{"@type":"Organization","name":"Mental Floss","url":"https://www.mentalfloss.com","logo":{"@type":"ImageObject","url":"https://images2.minutemediacdn.com/image/upload/v1541941289/frontier/sites/logos/mental-floss-logo-120px-height.png"}},"inLanguage":"en-US","mainEntity":{"@type":"WebPage","@id":"https://www.mentalfloss.com/animals/parasites","url":"https://www.mentalfloss.com/animals/parasites","name":"Parasites Facts, History & Quizzes | Mental Floss","description":"Discover fun parasite facts, trivia, and surprising stories on Mental Floss—content that entertains, educates, and satisfies your curiosity.","mainEntityOfPage":{"@type":"WebPageElement","@id":"https://www.mentalfloss.com/animals/parasites#main-content","name":"Main Content","description":"Discover fun parasite facts, trivia, and surprising stories on Mental Floss—content that entertains, educates, and satisfies your curiosity."}}}

{"@context":"http://schema.org","@type":"BreadcrumbList","itemListElement":[{"@type":"ListItem","position":1,"name":"Home","item":"https://www.mentalfloss.com"}]}

{"@context":"https://schema.org","@type":"NewsArticle","@id":"https://www.mentalfloss.com/geography/maps/cities-most-worried-about-bed-bugs","headline":"Map Shows Which Cities Are Most Worried About Bed Bugs","description":"Yelp reveals the top U.S. cities searching for bed bug help. Find out where infestations are raising red flags.","author":{"@type":"Person","name":"CaLea Johnson"},"datePublished":"2025-06-12T17:04:00Z","dateModified":"2025-06-12T17:04:00Z","mainEntityOfPage":{"@type":"WebPage","@id":"https://www.mentalfloss.com/geography/maps/cities-most-worried-about-bed-bugs"}}

{"@context":"https://schema.org","@type":"NewsArticle","@id":"https://www.mentalfloss.com/animals/invertebrates/fungus-turning-spiders-into-zombies-ireland","headline":"Scientists Identify Fungus Turning Spiders Into “Zombies” in Northern Ireland","description":"Researchers discovered a parasitic fungus that controls spiders‘ behavior, akin to the zombie ant fungus.","author":{"@type":"Person","name":"CaLea Johnson"},"datePublished":"2025-02-04T20:02:00Z","dateModified":"2025-02-04T20:02:00Z","mainEntityOfPage":{"@type":"WebPage","@id":"https://www.mentalfloss.com/animals/invertebrates/fungus-turning-spiders-into-zombies-ireland"}}

{"@context":"https://schema.org","@type":"NewsArticle","@id":"https://www.mentalfloss.com/animals/11-bloody-facts-about-vampire-bats","headline":"11 Surprising Facts About Vampire Bats","description":"Only three bat species, out of some 1100 in the world, actually have a taste for blood.","author":{"@type":"Person","name":"Matt Soniak"},"datePublished":"2013-10-11T20:10:00Z","dateModified":"2023-10-25T16:46:49Z","mainEntityOfPage":{"@type":"WebPage","@id":"https://www.mentalfloss.com/animals/11-bloody-facts-about-vampire-bats"}}

{"@context":"https://schema.org","@type":"NewsArticle","@id":"https://www.mentalfloss.com/animals/parasites/rat-lungworm-in-humans","headline":"Bummer: A Brain-Infesting Worm in Rats Can Also Attack Humans","description":"The CDC is giving people a very good reason to wash their produce.","author":{"@type":"Person","name":"Jake Rossen"},"datePublished":"2023-09-29T21:00:06Z","dateModified":"2023-09-29T21:00:06Z","mainEntityOfPage":{"@type":"WebPage","@id":"https://www.mentalfloss.com/animals/parasites/rat-lungworm-in-humans"}}

{"@context":"https://schema.org","@type":"NewsArticle","@id":"https://www.mentalfloss.com/animals/parasites/tongue-eating-louse-parasite","headline":"Meet the Tongue-Eating Louse, Which Does Exactly What You Think It Does","description":"The tongue-eating louse is a charming little isopod that likes to burrow into a fish's gills, settle in its mouth, then suck the blood out of its tongue until it falls off so that it can replace the organ and dine on the mucus.","author":{"@type":"Person","name":"Jake Rossen"},"datePublished":"2021-10-28T14:30:00Z","dateModified":"2021-10-28T14:30:00Z","mainEntityOfPage":{"@type":"WebPage","@id":"https://www.mentalfloss.com/animals/parasites/tongue-eating-louse-parasite"}}

{"@context":"https://schema.org","@type":"NewsArticle","@id":"https://www.mentalfloss.com/animals/insects/wasps-rid-anne-boleyn-birthplace-moth-infestation","headline":"Microscopic Wasps Will Help Stamp Out a Moth Infestation at Anne Boleyn’s Ancestral Home","description":"It’s the ‘Godzilla vs. Kong’ of the insect world, featuring a cameo by Anne Boleyn’s headless ghost.","author":{"@type":"Person","name":"Ellen Gutoskey"},"datePublished":"2021-02-18T15:30:00Z","dateModified":"2021-02-18T15:30:00Z","mainEntityOfPage":{"@type":"WebPage","@id":"https://www.mentalfloss.com/animals/insects/wasps-rid-anne-boleyn-birthplace-moth-infestation"}}

{"@context":"https://schema.org","@type":"NewsArticle","@id":"https://www.mentalfloss.com/culture/museums/tokyo-parasite-museum","headline":"Tokyo Is Home to a Museum Full of Parasites","description":"The Merugo Parasitological Museum has more than 300 life-sucking species on display, including a 28.9-foot long tapeworm. It's got date night written all over it.","author":{"@type":"Person","name":"Jake Rossen"},"datePublished":"2021-01-01T04:00:00Z","dateModified":"2021-01-01T04:00:00Z","mainEntityOfPage":{"@type":"WebPage","@id":"https://www.mentalfloss.com/culture/museums/tokyo-parasite-museum"}}

{"@context":"https://schema.org","@type":"NewsArticle","@id":"https://www.mentalfloss.com/animals/parasites/huge-tick-that-chases-prey-found-netherlands","headline":"Reality Bites: A Humongous Tick That Chases Its Prey Has Been Found in the Netherlands","description":"The non-native species doesn't wait for stationary hosts. It actively pursues them, scuttling over the ground to secure a blood meal.","author":{"@type":"Person","name":"Jake Rossen"},"datePublished":"2019-08-01T16:30:00Z","dateModified":"2019-08-01T16:30:00Z","mainEntityOfPage":{"@type":"WebPage","@id":"https://www.mentalfloss.com/animals/parasites/huge-tick-that-chases-prey-found-netherlands"}}

{"@context":"https://schema.org","@type":"NewsArticle","@id":"https://www.mentalfloss.com/animals/insects/psychotropic-fungus-eating-away-cicadas-genitalia-and-boosting-their-sex-drive","headline":"A Psychotropic Fungus Is Eating Away Cicadas' Genitalia and Boosting Their Sex Drive","description":"Even when two-thirds of their bodies are composed of fungal spores, the host cicadas continue to attempt mating in a drugged-out stupor.","author":{"@type":"Person","name":"Michele Debczak"},"datePublished":"2019-07-02T14:30:00Z","dateModified":"2021-05-19T15:00:00Z","mainEntityOfPage":{"@type":"WebPage","@id":"https://www.mentalfloss.com/animals/insects/psychotropic-fungus-eating-away-cicadas-genitalia-and-boosting-their-sex-drive"}}

{"@context":"https://schema.org","@type":"NewsArticle","@id":"https://www.mentalfloss.com/history/epidemics-that-changed-history","headline":"6 Epidemics That Changed History","description":"A mosquito-borne disease might be responsible for the Louisiana Purchase.","author":{"@type":"Person","name":"Austin Thompson"},"datePublished":"2019-01-28T14:00:00Z","dateModified":"2019-01-28T14:00:00Z","mainEntityOfPage":{"@type":"WebPage","@id":"https://www.mentalfloss.com/history/epidemics-that-changed-history"}}

{"@context":"https://schema.org","@type":"NewsArticle","@id":"https://www.mentalfloss.com/animals/parasites/most-influential-parasite-history-malaria","headline":"The Most Influential Parasite in History","description":"By some estimates, malaria has killed half of everyone who has ever lived—and it almost took down one former president.","author":{"@type":"Person","name":"Erin McCarthy"},"datePublished":"2018-09-24T11:00:00Z","dateModified":"2018-09-24T11:00:00Z","mainEntityOfPage":{"@type":"WebPage","@id":"https://www.mentalfloss.com/animals/parasites/most-influential-parasite-history-malaria"}}

{"@context":"https://schema.org","@type":"NewsArticle","@id":"https://www.mentalfloss.com/animals/parasites/new-study-argues-cat-parasite-might-make-you-more-ambitious","headline":"A New Study Argues a Cat Parasite Might Make You More Ambitious","description":"The common parasite appears to influence human behavior.","author":{"@type":"Person","name":"Jake Rossen"},"datePublished":"2018-07-25T13:30:00Z","dateModified":"2018-07-25T13:30:00Z","mainEntityOfPage":{"@type":"WebPage","@id":"https://www.mentalfloss.com/animals/parasites/new-study-argues-cat-parasite-might-make-you-more-ambitious"}}

{"@context":"https://schema.org","@type":"NewsArticle","@id":"https://www.mentalfloss.com/animals/insects/super-stinger-wasp-was-just-discovered-amazon","headline":"This Super-Stinger Wasp Was Just Discovered in the Amazon","description":"It paralyzes its victims before depositing eggs inside them so they can burst like a bomb later. What a charmer.","author":{"@type":"Person","name":"Jake Rossen"},"datePublished":"2018-07-10T13:00:00Z","dateModified":"2018-07-10T13:00:00Z","mainEntityOfPage":{"@type":"WebPage","@id":"https://www.mentalfloss.com/animals/insects/super-stinger-wasp-was-just-discovered-amazon"}}

{"@context":"https://schema.org","@type":"NewsArticle","@id":"https://www.mentalfloss.com/animals/parasites/body-snatching-parasites","headline":"11 Body-Snatching Parasites","description":"With the ability to control and even kill their hosts, each one of these parasites could star as the next terror of the silver screen.","author":{"@type":"Person","name":"Diane A. Kelly"},"datePublished":"2018-04-26T16:00:00Z","dateModified":"2023-02-07T14:34:04Z","mainEntityOfPage":{"@type":"WebPage","@id":"https://www.mentalfloss.com/animals/parasites/body-snatching-parasites"}}

{"@context":"https://schema.org","@type":"NewsArticle","@id":"https://www.mentalfloss.com/science/disease/new-test-can-differentiate-between-tick-borne-illnesses","headline":"New Test Can Differentiate Between Tick-borne Illnesses","description":"Time is of the essence in diagnosing and treating Lyme disease.","author":{"@type":"Person","name":"Kate Horowitz"},"datePublished":"2017-08-18T10:30:00Z","dateModified":"2017-08-18T10:30:00Z","mainEntityOfPage":{"@type":"WebPage","@id":"https://www.mentalfloss.com/science/disease/new-test-can-differentiate-between-tick-borne-illnesses"}}

{"@context":"https://schema.org","@type":"NewsArticle","@id":"https://www.mentalfloss.com/science/medicine/german-doctors-may-soon-prescribe-parasite-eggs","headline":"German Doctors May Soon Prescribe Parasite Eggs","description":"Helminthic therapy is unproven for many conditions and is currently illegal in most countries.","author":{"@type":"Person","name":"Kate Horowitz"},"datePublished":"2017-08-15T18:30:00Z","dateModified":"2017-08-15T18:30:00Z","mainEntityOfPage":{"@type":"WebPage","@id":"https://www.mentalfloss.com/science/medicine/german-doctors-may-soon-prescribe-parasite-eggs"}}

{"@context":"https://schema.org","@type":"NewsArticle","@id":"https://www.mentalfloss.com/animals/amphibians/reason-some-frogs-grow-extra-legs","headline":"The Reason Some Frogs Grow Extra Legs","description":"The culprit is parasites, not pollution.","author":{"@type":"Person","name":"Kirstin Fawcett"},"datePublished":"2017-07-09T06:00:00Z","dateModified":"2017-07-09T06:00:00Z","mainEntityOfPage":{"@type":"WebPage","@id":"https://www.mentalfloss.com/animals/amphibians/reason-some-frogs-grow-extra-legs"}}

{"@context":"https://schema.org","@type":"NewsArticle","@id":"https://www.mentalfloss.com/animals/cats/new-study-finds-no-link-between-childhood-cat-ownership-and-psychosis","headline":"New Study Finds No Link Between Childhood Cat Ownership and Psychosis","description":"Contrary to prior reports, the new study found that living with a cat before birth or in childhood did not increase adolescents’ risk of experiencing psychotic episodes.","author":{"@type":"Person","name":"Kate Horowitz"},"datePublished":"2017-02-22T19:30:00Z","dateModified":"2017-02-22T19:30:00Z","mainEntityOfPage":{"@type":"WebPage","@id":"https://www.mentalfloss.com/animals/cats/new-study-finds-no-link-between-childhood-cat-ownership-and-psychosis"}}

{"@context":"https://schema.org","@type":"NewsArticle","@id":"https://www.mentalfloss.com/animals/cats/devious-strategy-mind-controlling-cat-poop-parasite","headline":"The Devious Strategy of the Mind-Controlling Cat-Poop Parasite","description":"Scientists say Toxoplasma gondii can hack into and rewire a host’s immune system to suit its own purposes.","author":{"@type":"Person","name":"Kate Horowitz"},"datePublished":"2016-11-30T11:30:00Z","dateModified":"2016-11-30T11:30:00Z","mainEntityOfPage":{"@type":"WebPage","@id":"https://www.mentalfloss.com/animals/cats/devious-strategy-mind-controlling-cat-poop-parasite"}}

{"@context":"https://schema.org","@type":"NewsArticle","@id":"https://www.mentalfloss.com/animals/parasites/fish-parasite-may-have-compromised-decades-behavioral-experiments","headline":"A Fish Parasite May Have Compromised Decades of Behavioral Experiments","description":"Researchers say the behavior of zebrafish, long used as a proxy for humans, is significantly altered by infection with a common parasite.","author":{"@type":"Person","name":"Kate Horowitz"},"datePublished":"2016-08-01T22:00:00Z","dateModified":"2016-08-01T22:00:00Z","mainEntityOfPage":{"@type":"WebPage","@id":"https://www.mentalfloss.com/animals/parasites/fish-parasite-may-have-compromised-decades-behavioral-experiments"}}

{"@context":"https://schema.org","@type":"NewsArticle","@id":"https://www.mentalfloss.com/science/plants/how-tomatoes-fend-parasitic-vines","headline":"How Tomatoes Fend Off Parasitic Vines","description":"This tomato plant can sense and defend itself against invading plants.","author":{"@type":"Person","name":"Kate Horowitz"},"datePublished":"2016-07-28T19:00:00Z","dateModified":"2016-07-28T19:00:00Z","mainEntityOfPage":{"@type":"WebPage","@id":"https://www.mentalfloss.com/science/plants/how-tomatoes-fend-parasitic-vines"}}

{"@context":"https://schema.org","@type":"NewsArticle","@id":"https://www.mentalfloss.com/science/disease/guinea-worm-disease-may-soon-be-eradicated","headline":"Guinea Worm Disease May Soon Be Eradicated","description":"It would be the second human disease after small pox to be eliminated.","author":{"@type":"Person","name":"Kate Horowitz"},"datePublished":"2016-06-07T23:30:00Z","dateModified":"2016-06-07T23:30:00Z","mainEntityOfPage":{"@type":"WebPage","@id":"https://www.mentalfloss.com/science/disease/guinea-worm-disease-may-soon-be-eradicated"}}

{"@context":"https://schema.org","@type":"NewsArticle","@id":"https://www.mentalfloss.com/animals/parasites/14-surprising-truths-about-tapeworms","headline":"14 Surprising Truths About Tapeworms","description":"Yes, they're disgusting—but they're also fascinating.","author":{"@type":"Person","name":"Rosemary Mosco"},"datePublished":"2016-05-13T20:00:00Z","dateModified":"2016-05-13T20:00:00Z","mainEntityOfPage":{"@type":"WebPage","@id":"https://www.mentalfloss.com/animals/parasites/14-surprising-truths-about-tapeworms"}}

{"@context":"https://schema.org","@type":"NewsArticle","@id":"https://www.mentalfloss.com/live-smarter/travel/traveling-protect-yourself-hotel-bedbugs-these-tricks","headline":"Traveling? Protect Yourself from Hotel Bedbugs With These Tricks","description":"Here's what you can do to keep the little bloodsuckers from following you home.","author":{"@type":"Person","name":"Kate Horowitz"},"datePublished":"2016-04-18T21:00:00Z","dateModified":"2016-04-18T21:00:00Z","mainEntityOfPage":{"@type":"WebPage","@id":"https://www.mentalfloss.com/live-smarter/travel/traveling-protect-yourself-hotel-bedbugs-these-tricks"}}

{"@context":"https://schema.org","@type":"NewsArticle","@id":"https://www.mentalfloss.com/geography/maps/states-with-most-animal-collisions","headline":"The States With the Most—And Least—Animal Collisions, Mapped","description":"A 2026 data analysis from State Farm reveals that drivers in certain states have much higher odds of running into animals. See where your state falls.","author":{"@type":"Person","name":"Jenny Cohen"},"datePublished":"2026-11-01T21:00:02Z","dateModified":"2026-11-01T21:00:02Z","mainEntityOfPage":{"@type":"WebPage","@id":"https://www.mentalfloss.com/geography/maps/states-with-most-animal-collisions"}}

{"@context":"https://schema.org","@type":"NewsArticle","@id":"https://www.mentalfloss.com/culture/folklore-mythology/why-associate-ravens-death","headline":"Why Do We Associate Ravens With Death?","description":"Ravens have been almost universally connected with death, horror, and grief for centuries, but why?","author":{"@type":"Person","name":"Chelsea Thatcher"},"datePublished":"2026-10-31T14:00:01Z","dateModified":"2026-10-31T14:00:01Z","mainEntityOfPage":{"@type":"WebPage","@id":"https://www.mentalfloss.com/culture/folklore-mythology/why-associate-ravens-death"}}

{"@context":"https://schema.org","@type":"NewsArticle","@id":"https://www.mentalfloss.com/animals/dogs/common-dog-behaviors-explained","headline":"20 Common Dog Behaviors, Explained ","description":"These behaviors might seem strange to us humans, but there’s an explanation for them.","author":{"@type":"Person","name":"Paul Anthony Jones"},"datePublished":"2026-10-08T16:00:03Z","dateModified":"2026-10-08T16:00:03Z","mainEntityOfPage":{"@type":"WebPage","@id":"https://www.mentalfloss.com/animals/dogs/common-dog-behaviors-explained"}}

{"@context":"https://schema.org","@type":"NewsArticle","@id":"https://www.mentalfloss.com/animals/cryptids-that-turned-out-to-be-real","headline":"6 Cryptids That Turned Out to Be Real","description":"From the jackalope to krakens, these mythic creatures turned out to have very real counterparts.","author":{"@type":"Person","name":"Lorna Wallace"},"datePublished":"2026-09-26T12:00:05Z","dateModified":"2026-09-26T12:00:05Z","mainEntityOfPage":{"@type":"WebPage","@id":"https://www.mentalfloss.com/animals/cryptids-that-turned-out-to-be-real"}}

{"@context":"https://schema.org","@type":"NewsArticle","@id":"https://www.mentalfloss.com/geography/maps/most-popular-dog-breed-by-state-map","headline":"The Most Popular Dog Breed in Every State, Mapped","description":"Discover the most popular dog breed in every U.S. state based on new data from Trusted Housesitters, plus the rare breeds house sitters want to care for most.","author":{"@type":"Person","name":"Nitya Rao"},"datePublished":"2026-09-09T01:00:00Z","dateModified":"2026-09-09T01:00:00Z","mainEntityOfPage":{"@type":"WebPage","@id":"https://www.mentalfloss.com/geography/maps/most-popular-dog-breed-by-state-map"}}

{"@context":"https://schema.org","@type":"NewsArticle","@id":"https://www.mentalfloss.com/history/polar-bear-kept-at-tower-of-london","headline":"The Polar Bear Once Kept at the Tower of London","description":"The Tower of London was once home to lions, tigers, baboons, and yes—a polar bear whose presence caused city officials a fair amount of grief.","author":{"@type":"Person","name":"Paul Anthony Jones"},"datePublished":"2026-09-07T20:00:00Z","dateModified":"2026-09-07T20:00:00Z","mainEntityOfPage":{"@type":"WebPage","@id":"https://www.mentalfloss.com/history/polar-bear-kept-at-tower-of-london"}}

{"@context":"https://schema.org","@type":"NewsArticle","@id":"https://www.mentalfloss.com/history/animals-won-bravery-medals-history","headline":"12 Animals Who Have Won Bravery Medals Throughout History","description":"These brave animals earned medals and recognition for their heroic actions on the battlefield and beyond.","author":{"@type":"Person","name":"Paul Anthony Jones"},"datePublished":"2026-09-03T16:00:01Z","dateModified":"2026-09-03T16:00:01Z","mainEntityOfPage":{"@type":"WebPage","@id":"https://www.mentalfloss.com/history/animals-won-bravery-medals-history"}}

{"@context":"https://schema.org","@type":"NewsArticle","@id":"https://www.mentalfloss.com/animals/insects/spiritual-meaning-yellow-butterflies","headline":"The Spiritual Meaning of Yellow Butterflies","description":"Butterflies have long been connected to transformation, while yellow tends to be linked to happiness. The spiritual meaning of a yellow butterfly combines both these things.","author":{"@type":"Person","name":"Eden Gordon"},"datePublished":"2026-09-03T12:00:00Z","dateModified":"2026-09-03T12:00:00Z","mainEntityOfPage":{"@type":"WebPage","@id":"https://www.mentalfloss.com/animals/insects/spiritual-meaning-yellow-butterflies"}}