Name: Ben Revell
Picture title: Gordian Worm Knot
Category: Invertebrate Portrait
Nationality: Australian
Occupation: Farmer

Ben:
‘It was early autumn as a friend and I were exploring the rainforest creeks of the Australian Sunshine Coast Hinterland by night when we stumbled upon this remarkable scene. Emerging from the abdomen of a fire back huntsman spider was this long cylindrical worm. I had read about these horrific creatures before, but this was the first time I had witnessed a Gordian Worm.

Named after the impossible knots they form when out of water, these parasitic worms thankfully only infect invertebrates. After hatching, their microscopic larvae swim free in water and are ingested by drinking insects. They grow inside the stomach of the insect until they move through the stomach lining and begin devouring the non-vital organs of its victim. Reaching maturity, the worm releases a mind controlling agent, forcing its now zombie like host to walk to water where it bursts through the abdomen and drops into the water to complete its life cycle.’

Technical information:
Sony a6000
Sony 30mm macro prime
1/125, f/11, ISO320
Accessories: External speedlight and homemade diffuser.
Post processing: Basic adjustments in Lightroom, Topaz Photo AI.

Instagram: bensamuel86