Zombie Ants

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“Zombie” ants fall victim to mind-control fungus
                By Mike Krumboltz
            
        
        Thu Mar 10, 11:52 am ET


                'Zombie ants' may sound like the title of an Ed Wood movie, but, according to National Geographic, they are quite real.
                Oddly, there's nothing very zombie-like about the 
actual ants. It's only when a particular fungus takes over the ant's 
brain that things get weird.
                Once the "stalk of the newfound fungus species 
Ophiocordyceps camponoti-balzani infects an ant, the ant gives up 
control over its own body. After the fungus is in control, it forces the
 ant to scamper toward "a location ideal for the fungi to grow and 
spread their spores." Then, it's lights out for the ant. Who knew a 
fungus could be so diabolical?
                These wild discoveries were made by a group in Brazil headed by entomologist David Hughes. National Geographic
 published a series of pictures of ants that have "lost their minds" to 
the fungus. You can check out a sample of them below. Not for the 
squeamish.

Link


Edited by Mack - 10 March 2011 at 8:57pm

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Mack Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Add to Buddy List Moderator Group Has no impulse! control Joined: 13 January 2004 Location: 2nd Circle Status: Offline Points: 9906	Post Options Post Reply Quote Mack Report Post Thanks(0) Quote Reply Topic: Zombie Ants Posted: 10 March 2011 at 8:56pm
	“Zombie” ants fall victim to mind-control fungus By Mike Krumboltz Thu Mar 10, 11:52 am ET 'Zombie ants' may sound like the title of an Ed Wood movie, but, according to National Geographic, they are quite real. Oddly, there's nothing very zombie-like about the actual ants. It's only when a particular fungus takes over the ant's brain that things get weird. Once the "stalk of the newfound fungus species Ophiocordyceps camponoti-balzani infects an ant, the ant gives up control over its own body. After the fungus is in control, it forces the ant to scamper toward "a location ideal for the fungi to grow and spread their spores." Then, it's lights out for the ant. Who knew a fungus could be so diabolical? These wild discoveries were made by a group in Brazil headed by entomologist David Hughes. National Geographic published a series of pictures of ants that have "lost their minds" to the fungus. You can check out a sample of them below. Not for the squeamish. Link Edited by Mack - 10 March 2011 at 8:57pm


DaveEllis Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Add to Buddy List Moderator Group back from the dead like Tupac Joined: 24 October 2002 Location: United States Status: Offline Points: 7517	Post Options Post Reply Quote DaveEllis Report Post Thanks(0) Quote Reply Posted: 10 March 2011 at 8:57pm
	this article came out in august of 2010. http://www.guardian.co.uk/science/2010/aug/18/zombie-carpenter-ant-fungus i am disappoint

Reb Cpl Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Add to Buddy List Moderator Group Has to say "yes" to "are you a cop?" Joined: 10 June 2002 Location: United States Status: Offline Points: 14210	Post Options Post Reply Quote Reb Cpl Report Post Thanks(0) Quote Reply Posted: 11 March 2011 at 9:34am
	The worst part is that there are no high rise ant hills for the hold-outs to hide in.
	?

JohnnyHopper Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Add to Buddy List Platinum Member I.O.U. a punch Joined: 15 June 2002 Location: North Chuck SC Status: Offline Points: 4664	Post Options Post Reply Quote JohnnyHopper Report Post Thanks(0) Quote Reply Posted: 11 March 2011 at 9:50am
	There is video of this occuring in the BBC Planet Earth series from 2006. Edited by JohnnyHopper - 11 March 2011 at 9:53am
	My shoes of peace have steel toes.

Rofl_Mao Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Add to Buddy List Platinum Member request denied Joined: 27 October 2008 Location: Canada Status: Offline Points: 3210	Post Options Post Reply Quote Rofl_Mao Report Post Thanks(0) Quote Reply Posted: 11 March 2011 at 6:06pm
	I hate ants.