Ear seeker

In the Dungeons & Dragons fantasy role-playing game, the ear seeker is a parasitic organism. They resemble tiny worms with wings. The creatures are so named because although they nest in wood, they need warm places to lay eggs, and their favorite of such warm places are the ears of other, larger creatures, most commonly humans. When the eggs hatch, the larvae burrow into the brain of the host, which is fatal in 90% of cases. The creatures then emerge from the ear as fully grown adults, and go off to lay eggs of their own to start the process once more.

Ear seekers are unintelligent and cannot speak. They are regarded as neutral in alignment, despite having what might be regarded as evil habits.

The game's creator, Gary Gygax, suggested in the Dungeon Master's Guide that the creatures were created simply to discourage too frequent listening at dungeon doors and thereby slowing down gameplay.