MycoRant

Species of Cordyceps are known for their ability to parasitize insects. The “mind control” implemented by some species over ants is truly amazing. A new study published in The American Naturalist has shed new light on just how amazing this phenomenon truly is. A post at Eureka Alert, Parasite causes zombie ants to die in an ideal spot, gives details.

“At a field site in a Thai forest, Hughes’s team found that the infected carpenter ants are almost invariably found clamped onto the undersides of leaves that are 25 centimeters (about 10 inches) from the ground below. What’s more, most of the dead ants were found on leaves sprouting from the northwest side of the plant. Interestingly, the researchers found that temperature, humidity and sunlight in these spots are apparently optimal for the fungus to grow and reproduce. When the researchers placed leaves with infected ants at higher locations, or on the forest floor, the parasite failed to develop properly.”

Here are some photos of insect parasitic fungi at work.

Reference

Sandra B. Andersen, Sylvia Gerritsma, Kalsum M. Yusah, David Mayntz, Nigel L. Hywel‐Jones, Johan Billen, Jacobus J. Boomsma, and David P. Hughes, “The Life of a Dead Ant: The Expression of an Adaptive Extended Phenotype.” The American Naturalist, September 2009.

Tags: ants, parasites