Zombie-ant fungus (Ophiocordyceps unilateralis) is a pathogenic fungi that enters the body of an ant and begins to consume the non-vital soft tissues. It then spreads and produces compounds that affects the ant’s brain, changing it’s behavior. It causes the ant to climb up the stem of a plant then lock it’s mandibles using ‘abnormal force’ to secure itself to the plant.
The fungus then kills the ant but continues to grow and sprout mycelia out of the ant to anchor it to the plant substrate. Finally, the fungus consumes the ant’s brain, ruptures it’s head and releases it’s spores.
This behavior has been going on for 48 million years!
I am not making this up. I first read about this many years ago, I believe it was in Discover magazine. You can find all the details here at wikipedia.
Also, apparently, there is a parasite that fights the zombie-ant fungus saving some ants. Read about it here.
Image Credit
Image by pennstatelive on flickr – Some Rights Reserved
There are numerous examples in nature of creatures (other than bartenders) making other creatures zombies. The female of the barnacle species “Sacculina”, burrows into a crab, takes over its brain and feeds on its body; then the ultimate indignity, it allows a male “Sacculina” to enter the crabs body and mates. The crab spends the rest of its life playing nanny to the offspring of its invaders.
One has to wonder if there could be similar creatures commandeering the brains of human…NO THAT IS IMPOSSIBLE; IGNORE WHAT I JUST SAID…
Hi George,
You know, I just heard a section on Quirks and Quarks (CBC) a few weeks ago on that crab! Very peculiar behavior indeed, and apparently, quite unique.
As to creatures commandeering our brains … I noticed a while back long white fibrous filaments growing out of my head. It vexed me till my wife told me they were just gray hairs! I have noticed however that since they appeared, my memory seems to have been compromised so I am not convinced she is right. Something is stealing my memory! AHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!!!!!!!!
Ummm … where was I? Ahem …
Wow. I wonder if he would genetically reprogram zombie ant fungus to make ants to other things, like make sculptures in my yard. There are probably more productive activities for them, but that’s the first thing which popped into my head. (Possibly because of zombie ant fungus.)
Argh! Gil, you just blew my mind. I’m afraid the ant’s mind has been blown as well.
Tess … I believe you are right! Nature, is amazing is it not?
EEEEK! God! I love this! wow. totally amazing!
Sure – here’s a link about a corn fungus that’s good for us – come to think of it – have you ever eaten hot & sour soup – it’s got fungus in it too! http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2010/04/27/huitlacoche-corn-smut-goo_n_553422.html
Heather!
I totally missed this link! Thanks for sharing it … and to those of you who have not read it … a teaser!
“IRAPUATO, Mexico — It’s now an established scientific fact: Smut is GOOD for you. Corn smut, that is.”
WOW … LOL!!!
Gileeeeeeeeee
I really, truly thought that the whole zombie thing had been done to death (pardon the pun). And then I read this. Unreal. Yet real. Horrific. And yet… no, just horrific. Blech! Thanks, Gil, for giving me the heebie-jeebies.
Hi Ben,
My pleasure! LOL
Gileeeeeeeeeee
heebie-jeebies is right…bugs and fungus…what a disgusting combination you’ve found Gil. Ants used to be the one bug that didn’t creep me out…that is no longer the case.
I think the ants are ok Marshall. It’s the fungus that is the villain here!
I wish humans could adapt to things as well as animals and insects seem to – this fungus kind of reminds me of Huitlacoche – a Mexican delicacy – A fungus ‘attacks’ the maiz and “usually enters the ovaries and replaces the normal kernels of the cobs with large, distorted tumors analogous to mushrooms. These tumors, or “galls”, are made up of much-enlarged cells of the infected plant, fungal threads, and blue-black spores.” (Wikipedia)
I’ve eaten Huitlacoche quesadillas – Mexicans rave about them – they were ok – kind of tasted like a dank, earthy mushroom. Wonder if anyone in some part of the world eats the Zombie ants.
WOW!
Heather … can you give us a link to that?
Cheers,
Gil