ANT COLONIZED: A mature O. unilateralis growing from an ant it has killed a few weeks before. The "P" points out the perithecial plates where spores are released.
Image: THE AMERICAN NATURALIST/ UNIVERSITY OF CHICAGO PRESS
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Problem: you’re a fungus that can only flourish at a certain temperature, humidity, location and distance from the ground but can’t do the legwork to find that perfect spot yourself. Solution: hijack an ant’s body to do the work for you—and then inhabit it.
A paper, to be published in The American Naturalist’s September issue, explores the astounding accuracy with which this fungus compels ants to create its ideal home.
The Ophiocordyceps unilateralis fungus infects Camponotus leonardi ants that live in tropical rainforest trees. Once infected, the spore-possessed ant will climb down from its normal habitat and bite down, with what the authors call a "death grip" on a leaf and then die. But the story doesn’t end there.
"The death grip occurred in very precise locations," the authors write. All of the C. leonardi ants studied in Thailand’s Khao Chong Wildlife Sanctuary had chomped down on the underside of a leaf, and 98 percent had landed on a vein. Most had: a) found their way to the north side of the plant, b) chomped on a leaf about 25 centimeters above the ground, c) selected a leaf in an environment with 94 to 95 percent humidity and d) ended up in a location with temperatures between 20 and 30 degrees Celsius. The researchers called this specificity "remarkable."
In other words, the fungus was transported via the zombie ant to its prime location. To see just how important this accuracy is to the fungus, the researchers identified dozens of infected ants in a small area of the forest. Some of the ants were moved to other nearby heights and locations, and others were left to sprout spores just where they had died.
Those ants that were left where O. unilateralis directed them grew normal, healthy hyphae (fungal threads) within several days, but those that had been moved never did.
"I cannot think of another example [of adaptive behavioral changes] as specific as this one," Edward Levri, who has studied behavioral changes in parasite hosts but was not involved in this study, wrote in an e-mail. "The fact that infected individuals all die in a 'lock-jawed' position, at 25 centimeters above ground, mostly on the north side of the tree is amazing and suggests that multiple behaviors and possibly multiple manipulatory physiological mechanisms may be required by the parasite."
The authors also examined the impact of the fungus on an ant in the Polyrhachis genus and found that not all of the behaviors carried over. "The fact that infection by this parasite in another ant species results in some behavioral change, but results in less optimal behavior for the parasite, points to the idea that this parasite has evolved to manipulate this specific host," noted Levri, who is an assistant professor of biology at Penn State Altoona.
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44 Comments
Add CommentFurther studies could reveal more on how the nervous system works. Then emerald cockroach wasp is interesting and can possible be studied for pest control in roach infested houses.
Reply | Report Abuse | Link to thisI for one welcome our new fungus overlords.
Reply | Report Abuse | Link to thisZOMBIE ANTS ARE ATTACKING MAJOR CITIES EATING PEOPLES BRAAAINZZ!!! OMNOMNOM!!
Reply | Report Abuse | Link to thisNEWS WARNING! ZOMBIE ANTS ARE ATTACKING MAJOR CITIES AND EATING PEOPLES BRAAAINZ!! OMNOMNOM!!
Reply | Report Abuse | Link to thisWE SHOULD RESPECT THE NATURE!!!!!!
Reply | Report Abuse | Link to thisAMAZING NATURE!!!!!IS THERE ANYTHING ELSE YOU CAN'T DO????????
Reply | Report Abuse | Link to thisthat youtube vid of the Quagmirius Wasp with Roofy Colada venom is cool
Reply | Report Abuse | Link to thisAs we reduce biodiversity, wont be long before these microscopic intelligent life forms look to us as an abundant perfect host.
Reply | Report Abuse | Link to thisWhat? This is something in nature that climate change isn't making worse?
Reply | Report Abuse | Link to thisBy the way, why are most posts on this topic writting in all CAPS and with muliple question marks and exclamation points????!!!!
I think that this will start to kill off more ants that are living in this area. As DiscomBob said, " I for one welcome our new fungus overlords." I would like to know why. This fungus will start to kill off more ants and maybe other species that happen to be caught in the "infectious killing field."
Reply | Report Abuse | Link to thiscool
Reply | Report Abuse | Link to thiscool~~
Reply | Report Abuse | Link to thisQuite cool to know. I think that if we completely understand this phenomena, we might see some mind controling technology!
Reply | Report Abuse | Link to thisWho says they don't already? If 9 out of 10 cells in our bodies aren't really ours but microbes', if the scent of our sweat is really the remains of what bacteria digest of our sweat and leave, and we are attracted to each other by how we smell . . . who says our body bacteria aren't trying to merge with other bacteria on other human hosts by making us attracted to certain people, with whom we then have encounters where we can exchange microbes? Hmmm . . .
Reply | Report Abuse | Link to thisWho says we aren't already being manipulated? We are already hosts to microbes that outnumber our body's animal cells 9 to 1. Our scent is really the outcome of microbial processing of our sweat. And one way we are attracted to each other is by scent . . . Perhaps our microbes are using our bodies to signal us to have microbe-swapping encounters with other human hosts with desirable microbes. We are ALREADY zombies!!!!
Reply | Report Abuse | Link to thisWho says we aren't already being manipulated? We are already hosts to microbes that outnumber our body's animal cells 9 to 1. Our scent is really the outcome of microbial processing of our sweat. And one way we are attracted to each other is by scent . . . Perhaps our microbes are using our bodies to signal us to have microbe-swapping encounters with other human hosts with desirable microbes. We are ALREADY zombies!!!!
Reply | Report Abuse | Link to thisThe Obama administration has just announced increased funding for fungal research and develpoment...spore stimulus package to be announced...
Reply | Report Abuse | Link to thisLike having malaria makes you more attractive to mosquitoes.
Reply | Report Abuse | Link to thisI wonder what Terrance McKenna would think of this were he still alive? We are a very long way from understanding how psychoactive fungi affect the human nervous system.
Reply | Report Abuse | Link to thisWow, scary, did you guys see the story about the two scientist researching this story that have become deathly ill. The doctors are saying they will expire within 24-48 hours due to a fungal infection.
Reply | Report Abuse | Link to thisTime to board up the windows.
(That would make a cool movie)
Mind control already exists in technology. It's called TV.
Reply | Report Abuse | Link to thisWell, this certainly explains Barack Obama supporters
Reply | Report Abuse | Link to thisMuch like the Megolaponera Foetens exhibited at the Museum of Jurassic Technology
Reply | Report Abuse | Link to thishttp://www.mjt.org/exhibits/foundation_collections/stink_ant/stinkant.html
Spooky; no I really mean it: alert the Spooks, this thing has military applications (and alert the grammar police, there is a colon and a semi-colon in the same sentence!).
Reply | Report Abuse | Link to thisUmm, does anyone remember the movie Matango?
Reply | Report Abuse | Link to thishttp://www.imdb.com/title/tt0057295/
Yeah, this rocks. Next time I drink to much and beat my wife, I'll just blame it on the f-fff-ff-fungus!
Yay Simpsons.
Reply | Report Abuse | Link to thisYay Simpsons
Reply | Report Abuse | Link to thisThey walk among us!!!!!
Reply | Report Abuse | Link to thisThis article caught my eye and upon reading it I was reminded of a piece I'd heard on NPR. In it the commentator spoke of The Museum Of Jurassic Technology. (www.mjt.org) A very similar exhibit regarding ants and fungus. Has anyone heard of or had a chance to visit?
Reply | Report Abuse | Link to thisPraise the Lord!
Reply | Report Abuse | Link to thisPraise the Lord!
Reply | Report Abuse | Link to thishahaha.. you welcome a fungus that takes over your mind and body to take you to a place with the perfect climate and humidity for said fungus... and then causes you to die (self destruct, whatever)...... then turns your innards to sugar??? .. k
Reply | Report Abuse | Link to thishahaha.. you welcome a fungus that takes over your mind and body to take you to a place with the perfect climate and humidity for said fungus... and then causes you to die (self destruct, whatever)...... then turns your innards to sugar??? .. k
Reply | Report Abuse | Link to thisoh shit not again!
Reply | Report Abuse | Link to thisIsn't there a species of fungus specific for different insects in this area? I've seen pictures of spores coming from beetles, moths, and many other insects. Makes me wonder how long vertebrates will be safe...
Reply | Report Abuse | Link to thisUgh... that video makes my toes and fingers curl... I hate insects. Now I feel like their crawling all over me!!!
Reply | Report Abuse | Link to thisWell I can think of another example of adaptive behaviour in the natural world - the way ants farm aphids - seems like some balancing out is going on here
Reply | Report Abuse | Link to thisA fungal infection in your mouth can alert you that you have diabetes,and very high blood sugar that could kill you and thus save your life.
Reply | Report Abuse | Link to thisVery interesting read, I just hope that this is not the start of an evolutionary virus that eventually finds its way to humans like the bird flue...
Reply | Report Abuse | Link to thisWe have additional information regarding Zombie Ants-- read it here. It includes a graphic video, showing exactly what happens when the fungus takes over the ant. Not for the squeamish.
Reply | Report Abuse | Link to thisSee it at:
http://zombie-night2.blogspot.com/2010/12/zombie-ants-taken-over-by-48m-year-old.html
For all things zombie related-- this is your source.
Blog of the Living Dead: (zombie-night.blogspot.com)
i need a quick answer..
Reply | Report Abuse | Link to thisWhy Ants exhibited pre-biting behavioral are active in the daylight?? is the fungi need the sun inorder to reproduce or what ?
Why zombie ants infected by mind-controlling fungus always kill themselves at high noon?? if anyone knows send me the answer plz
Reply | Report Abuse | Link to thishanan-ch1991@hotmail.com
Why zombie ants infected by mind-controlling fungus always kill themselves at high noon?? if anyone knows send me the answer plz
Reply | Report Abuse | Link to thishanan-ch1991@hotmail.com
Why zombie ants infected by mind-controlling fungus always kill themselves at high noon?? if anyone knows send me the answer plz
Reply | Report Abuse | Link to thishanan-ch1991@hotmail.com