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As I say in the paper, that may not be the case. I did a statistical test to see whether the preference for males is real, but the result is inconclusive. So it may be merely a random pattern. One should also consider the selection effects acting here: potentially parasitised males can be spotted by the changes in morphology, but changes in females are probably much more subtle. Males with obvious deformities * are examined for parasites at a higher rate than females.

I have yet to see a parasitised females - that does not mean they do not exist :)

Next year I will try to rear the parasite to the free-living adult stage for identificatio - if I can find some parasitised dolies. Unfortunately the sites where it is reasonably common are about 1000 km from my home. Rearing a specialist species such as this may not be easy. We'll see.

* EDIT: Care if needed here: the parasite does not always cause obvious demasculinisation. The effect depends on the host species size and the number of nematodes involved. A single parasite in a large host can cause only minor changes (like in the Dolichopus popularis - D. aemulus pair).