Topic
Why do they do it?
Also, can anyone give me the name of both the parasites and the insects?
Why do they not do it to mammals?
About parasites that make insects commit suicide
There r fungi in some rainforests which cause insects to lose their minds & grab onto a branch or leaf. The fungus then grows out of the insect is head or other parts of the body, depending on the insect, before releasing its spores into the atmosphere for other insects to get infected.
Each fungus will target only one type of insect. They have evolved this behaviour because insects provide them with both a good source of energy, & mobility.
When ants notice a member of their colony acting strangely, they will carry them as far from the colony as possible so that the fungus spores will not infect them all. interesting stuff!
About parasites that make insects commit suicide
Animals do not commit suicide. Suicide is act of choice. Only humans can make that choice.
An animals death caused by a parasite is not suicide. Many animals die every day from some sort of invasion by a parasite. One of the reasons the honey bee is in decline is a mite that eventually cause the bees death.
http://creatures.ifas.ufl.edu/misc/bees/tracheal_mite.htm
Mammals also suffer from parasitic conditions & diseases.
http://stanford.edu/class/humbio103/ParaSites2002/mammomonogamiasis/Mammomonogamiasis%20Web2.htm