LIVING OFF THE LIVING.

PARASITES IN ON AND AROUND YOU.

Since the South Korean movie, parasites have been stuck in people’s minds: not just as evil, life-draining villains but as something stranger and more varied. A parasite is simply an organism that lives on or inside a host, stealing food or shelter while causing harm. Some are obvious, some are sneaky, some even rewrite the rules of family.
So how do you stay parasite-free in these streets?

That’s where Hero Hyena steps in to school you on the creatures hiding in plain sight. Five parasites you need on your radar:

CUCKOO

Famous for clock chimes, but its real claim is brood parasitism. Females evict the eggs of birds like Reed Warblers and Dunnocks, laying their own instead. The foster parents raise a chick that soon dwarfs them. Peak cuckoo season is summer.

TONGUE LOUSE

A warped cousin of the woodlouse. It slips into a fish through the gills, drains the tongue of blood, then takes its place as a living organ. Harmless to humans, but a nightmare for fish — even showing up in supermarket catches.

TICKS

A tiny bloodsucker that can swell 600 times its own weight. Some carry bacteria that cause Lyme disease, starting with a bullseye-shaped rash and leading to long-term fatigue and pain. Always check yourself after woods and long grass.

TAPEWORM

Some species grow over 25m inside your body, living for decades undetected. They hook into your gut and steal nutrients straight from your food. Biggest risk: undercooked meat or fish. Cook your tings dem properly.

MOSQUITOES

The deadliest parasite on Earth, killing 700,000 people a year by passing on malaria. They lay eggs in stagnant water (old puddles, buckets, tyres). Splashing puddles can drown the larvae, and maybe bring you joy too.