zombie ants

[shireen]

Fungus turns tropical carpenter ants into walking dead

It’s like something out of a horror movie. A parasitic fungus infiltrates the body of a tropical carpenter ant, feeding on it and manipulating its body. The fungus forces the dying ant to the forest understory, an environment more conducive to its growth. The invasion of this fungal body-snatcher culminates with it sprouting a spore-laden fruiting body from the dead ant’s head.

An account of this deadly assault on tropical carpenter ants (Camponotus leonardi) by a parasitic fungus (Ophiocordyceps unilateralis) is described in the May 9, 2011 issue of the open access journal BMC Ecology.

Similar incidences of fungi parasitizing insects occur in other parts of the world. This particular case of zombie ants plays out in the forests of Thailand.

It’s a pretty gruesome affair, so if you find movies like The Thing and Night of the Living Dead too scary, now’s a good time to stop reading!

More at http://earthsky.org/biodiversity/fungus-turns-tropical-carpenter-ants-into-the-walking-dead





Be afraid. Be wewy afraid ...
:evilgrin:

[Drale]

1. Maybe this can be used to explain the tea party?

A brain fungus?

[ZombieHorde]

2. Humanity needs to drop everything and figure out how to make that fungus work on humans. nt

[whoneedstickets]

3. DARPA is already on it...

I'm guessing

[MineralMan]

4. Evolution is a very interesting thing.

Yes, it is, indeed. Looks like the fungus evolved to take advantage of the ant's mobility. Makes perfect sense.

[asjr]

5. My goodness! That is the tea-party mascot.

[Buzz Clik]

6. Oh, lord. This is pure nasty! The Body Snatchers reference was not misplaced:

:scared::scared::scared::scared:

[Lint Head]

7. That would make a great Halloween costume.