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

[lilitu93]

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.

Comments

[888mph]

Now, seriously. Could you please put that photo under the cut? I have mycophobia and the fact that this pic is in my flist is making me tear-up and gag.

[lilitu93]

Sorry, I didn't realise the photo was that bad. I've edited it now. I don't know if you go to the Guardian (where the original article is), but you might want to avoid it for today, since a smaller version is on the home page of the site last time I looked.

[blasphemusfish]

Ooh do you have firefox? You can get an addon that blocks specific images, handy for things like this. Just saying because some OPs might not be as quick to reply/cut, and we get a fair few fungus posts here.

[lilitu93]

If you're talking about AdBlock, I think you can get it for several browsers, including Safari and Chrome, though I'm not sure if they are fully functional. I don't know about IE.

Also, I just happened to be around when I got that reply - if it had happened at a different time, I might not have been at the computer. And sorry again for not putting it under the cut - I thought it was just the safe side of 'gross', since it's on the home page of a national newspaper today.

[rockerina]

One day, we could be those ants.

[blasphemusfish]

That tiny hat does look suspiciously like a fungus

[underlankers]

Yup. Decomposition's a nasty thing, innit?

[megabuzz101]

Little known fact, this creepy fungus is also a very effective aphrodisiac. (Tried and true from me to you!)

[lilitu93]

Whatever works for you, as long as you don't end up like the ants. ;-)

[megabuzz101]

The only shuffling I do is on the dance floor!
*shuffa shuffa*

[matanai]

Win!

*downloads*

[jettakd]

Late I know, but omgggg this movie is awesome and hilarious.

[pj_krystofer]

Did you hear about Steven? Yeah he just started going crazy last week. He left the house, leaving me and all of our children alone and hungry. I thought he was seeing another ant until I saw him a few days later hanging upside down on a tree with something sticking out his head.

[scythemantis]

http://www.creepypasta.com/up/

Not to be confused with the pixar film.

[evilstorm]

That's a good one. I haven't read any decent new creepypasta in ages.

[grygon]

lmao