A fungus from the stalk of four distinct species of Ophiocordyceps camponoti-balzani found in the Brazilian rain forest which was originally thought to be a single species, called Ophiocordyceps unilateralis turn out can infect an ant, take over its brain, and then kill the insect once it moves to a location ideal for the fungi to grow and spread their spores. The study state that this cryptic cycle has been going on for at least 48 million years.

Photo by David Hughes
The most amazing thing about this is that just before its death, the ant will crawl down towards the underside of the leaf and perform a 'death grip' around the leaf central vein and immobilising themselves thus provide the perfect condition for the fungus to release spores to create the next generation of ant-controlling fungi a.k.a Zombie Ants.

More reading :

National Geographic
Guardian.co.uk
Scientific American
Discover Magazin



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