Zombie Ant Parasite

Zombie Ant Parasite

By Emily

                An interesting parasitic fungi, Ophiocordyceps unilateralis, lives deep in Thailand. O. unilateralis depends on its ability to effectively take over other insects mental capabilities in order to reproduce (“Parasite Causes” 2009, Stone, 2009). Specifically, O. unilateralis prays on carpenter ants (Camponotus leonardi) found in forested areas (“Parasite Causes” 2009, Stone 2009). Once the spores of the parasitic fungus reach the carpenter ant, it somehow manipulates the ants mind (“Parasite Causes” 2009, Stone 2009). The fungus then controls the ant to relocate from the very tops of the trees where the ant normally resides to the bottom of the tree about 25 cm above ground (“Parasite Causes” 2009, Stone 2009). This is the optimum place for the fungus to be while reproducing due to just the right temperature humidity, for this same reason it also prefers to be on the northern side of the tree (Stone 2009). The carpenter ant is then controlled to the underside of a suitable leaf and crushes its mandible on the leaf holding his body firmly in place (“Parasite Causes” 2009, Stone 2009). Once the carpenter ant is positioned in the best place and securely on a leaf, the fungi no long requires the art to be alive and the ant starts to die (“Parasite Causes” 2009, Stone 2009). Once dead it takes 2-3 days for the fungi to take nutrients from the body and starts to grow a stalk out of the head of the ant (“Parasite Causes” 2009, Stone 2009). After a following 2 weeks, the stalk reaches maturity and releases more spores around the forest, where the process starts all over again (Stone 2009).

                Although currently researchers do not know how the parasitic fungus controls the insect host, researchers are testing the parasite to see how it reacts to different scenarios as well as speculate on which evolutionary steps helped the parasitic fungus to have this much control over its host (“Parasite Causes” 2009). Another study is researching how the parasitic fungi can be helpful in orchid reproduction by providing certain nutrients and carbon (Stone 2009).

Work Cited

“Parasite Causes Zombie Ants To Die In An Ideal Spot”. Science Daily.  2009. Available:                 http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2009/08/090811161345.htm

Stone, Marcia. “The Secret Lives of Thai Fungi Revealed”. BioScience. 2009. Vol. 59 No. 10. P 920