'Zombie ants' controlled by parasitic fungus for 48m years

Aug 18, 2010 15:01

Earliest evidence of fungus that takes over ants' behaviour for its own ends found by scientists

The oldest evidence of a fungus that turns ants into zombies and makes them stagger to their death has been uncovered by scientists.

Photo and more below the cut )

parasitism, parasites, parasite, fungi, insect

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Comments 60

underlankers August 18 2010, 14:56:19 UTC
I for one welcome our new fungal overlords.

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888mph August 18 2010, 14:58:32 UTC
I HATE FUNGUS!!! I HATE THEM WITH THE POWER OF A THOUSAND SUNS!!!!!!!

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dunsparce August 18 2010, 15:02:58 UTC

... )

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blasphemusfish August 18 2010, 16:23:36 UTC
heeeehh awesome.

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jovianmelody August 18 2010, 19:26:00 UTC
my thoughts exactly D: paras whyyy

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lilitu93 August 18 2010, 19:34:16 UTC
More proof that Pokemon is just really really weird and warped if you think about it too closely.

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akirashima August 18 2010, 15:08:52 UTC
Our secret is unveiled! our history now known! Fungal Infected RISE AND STRIKE DOWN THE SCIENTISTS BEFORE THEY KNOW EVERYTHING.

and everyone else can just ignore this comment and go about your daily lives unaware :)

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hyakuiro August 18 2010, 15:23:59 UTC
Once an ant has died, the fungus sprouts from its head and produces a pod of spores, which are fired at night on to the forest floor, where they can infect other ants.

Ooh, fireworks *_*

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