Zombie Ants controlled by Fungi!

Josh · Aug 12, 2009

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/32388708/ns/te...cience-science/

In a bizarre parasitic death sentence, a fungus turns carpenter ants into the walking dead and gets them to die in a spot that's perfect for the fungus to grow and reproduce.

Scientists have no clue how the fungus takes control of the brains of ants so effectively. But a new study in the September issue of the American Naturalist reveals an incredible set of strategies that ensue.

The carpenter ants nest high in the canopy of a forest in Thailand, and they trek to the forest floor to forage. The fungus, Ophiocordyceps unilateralis, prefers to end up on the undersides leaves sprouting from the northwest side of plants that grow on the forest floor, the new study showed. That's where temperature, humidity and sunlight are ideal for the fungus to grow and reproduce and infect more ants.

Once infected by the fungus, an ant is compelled to climb down from the canopy to the low leaves, where it clamps down with its mandibles just before it dies.

"The fungus accurately manipulates the infected ants into dying where the parasite prefers to be, by making the ants travel a long way during the last hours of their lives," said study leader David P. Hughes of Harvard University.

After the ant dies, the fungus continues to grow inside it. By dissecting victims, Hughes and colleagues found that the parasite converts the ant's innards into sugars that help the fungus grow. But it leaves the muscles controlling the mandibles intact to make sure the ant keeps its death grip on the leaf.

The fungus also preserves the ant's outer shell, growing into cracks and crevices to reinforce weak spots, thereby fashioning a protective coating that keeps microbes and other fungi out.

"The fungus has evolved a suite of novel strategies to retain possession of its precious resource," Hughes said.

After a week or two, spores from the fungus fall to the forest floor, where other ants can be infected.

Making nests in the forest canopy might be an evolved ant strategy to avoid infection, Hughes figures. The ants also seem to avoid foraging under infected areas. This too might be an adaptive strategy to avoid infection, but more study is needed to confirm it, he said.

How the fungus controls ant behavior remains unknown. "That is another research area we are actively pursuing right now," Hughes said.

© 2009 LiveScience.com. All rights reserved.

Coolbeans · Aug 12, 2009

Oh shit ? the beginning of the end ?

but thats pretty cool i've seen some other things like that with caterpillars

Prometheus · Aug 12, 2009

Wow, That's awesome. It's a good thing that it only infects ants..... for now..... :lol:

ImmaculateBastard · Aug 12, 2009

i remember seeing things about this one night on Nature on PBS. best friday night Ever. either way, its somewhat disturbing and if anything should be a good healthy reminder of why you should keep plywood over your windows: the hordes could be coming. AHHHHHHHH!!!!! *flails arms in air in typical muppet fashion*

Old Gregg · Aug 13, 2009

i saw this on some thing on Discovery, it showed a load of other stuff that took over animals like some fungus that sprouted out of the ants head

Taters · Aug 13, 2009

didnt i post something like this already?

im very sure i did. it was months ago when it was on yahoo!'s front page.

but it was because of a parasite that hollowed out the ant's head and then it falls off once the parasite is matured.

then as an extra "fuck you" it repeats the cycle.

Haplo · Aug 13, 2009

i remember reading about this from u taters

Sig. · Aug 13, 2009

It wasn't fungi though.

It was a parasitic fly that ate out the ant and then the ant moved around zombie like.

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Zombie Ants controlled by Fungi!

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