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psilocybin_qualm
Student


Registered: 04/25/07
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Zombie Ants Controlled by Fungus
#10875689 - 08/17/09 12:50 PM (14 years, 6 months ago) |
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Animals Zombie Ants Controlled by Fungus
By LiveScience Staff
posted: 12 August 2009 09:23 am ET
In a bizarre parasitic death sentence, a fungus turns carpenter ants into the walking dead and gets them to die in a spot that's perfect for the fungus to grow and reproduce.
Scientists have no clue how the fungus takes control of the brains of ants so effectively. But a new study in the September issue of the American Naturalist reveals an incredible set of strategies that ensue.
The carpenter ants nest high in the canopy of a forest in Thailand, and they trek to the forest floor to forage. The fungus, Ophiocordyceps unilateralis, prefers to end up on the undersides leaves sprouting from the northwest side of plants that grow on the forest floor, the new study showed. That's where temperature, humidity and sunlight are ideal for the fungus to grow and reproduce and infect more ants.
Once infected by the fungus, an ant is compelled to climb down from the canopy to the low leaves, where it clamps down with its mandibles just before it dies.
"The fungus accurately manipulates the infected ants into dying where the parasite prefers to be, by making the ants travel a long way during the last hours of their lives," said study leader David P. Hughes of Harvard University.
After the ant dies, the fungus continues to grow inside it. By dissecting victims, Hughes and colleagues found that the parasite converts the ant's innards into sugars that help the fungus grow. But it leaves the muscles controlling the mandibles intact to make sure the ant keeps its death grip on the leaf.
The fungus also preserves the ant's outer shell, growing into cracks and crevices to reinforce weak spots, thereby fashioning a protective coating that keeps microbes and other fungi out.
"The fungus has evolved a suite of novel strategies to retain possession of its precious resource," Hughes said.
After a week or two, spores from the fungus fall to the forest floor, where other ants can be infected.
Making nests in the forest canopy might be an evolved ant strategy to avoid infection, Hughes figures. The ants also seem to avoid foraging under infected areas. This too might be an adaptive strategy to avoid infection, but more study is needed to confirm it, he said.
How the fungus controls ant behavior remains unknown. "That is another research area we are actively pursuing right now," Hughes said.
mod edit: added link and picture
Edited by veggie (08/17/09 01:08 PM)
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WalterShabas



Registered: 07/30/08
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This freaks me out, and makes me really distrust mushrooms in general. Maybe mushrooms only make us trip balls so that we keep growing them! I for one am not going to be controlled by these evil fungus overlords!
-------------------- Push th' little daisies and make 'em come up.
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Endlessness
Nexus Refugee

Registered: 07/21/07
Posts: 272
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Re: Zombie Ants Controlled by Fungus [Re: WalterShabas]
#10875877 - 08/17/09 01:24 PM (14 years, 6 months ago) |
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Sounds like some Mckenna daydreaming about humans only being an invention of fungus to move spores around
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rodfarva
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Registered: 07/31/07
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Re: Zombie Ants Controlled by Fungus [Re: Endlessness]
#10876036 - 08/17/09 01:55 PM (14 years, 6 months ago) |
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Quote:
Oh my God, what if there is a fungus that makes us smoke, drink and work ourselves to death, and then bury our dead in wooden boxes underground where they can feast on us in moist cool climate control. Would we know it?
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batmanonshrooms
I'm a Fungi



Registered: 08/11/09
Posts: 55
Loc: Ireland
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Re: Zombie Ants Controlled by Fungus [Re: rodfarva]
#10876068 - 08/17/09 02:00 PM (14 years, 6 months ago) |
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i swear it was the fungus that make me kill all those people
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MushroomTrip
Dr. Teasy Thighs



Registered: 12/02/05
Posts: 14,794
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Re: Zombie Ants Controlled by Fungus [Re: WalterShabas]
#10876123 - 08/17/09 02:09 PM (14 years, 6 months ago) |
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Quote:
WalterShabas said: This freaks me out, and makes me really distrust mushrooms in general. Maybe mushrooms only make us trip balls so that we keep growing them! I for one am not going to be controlled by these evil fungus overlords!
Maybe the mushrooms wanted you to read this article so you stop growing them.
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   All this time I've loved you And never known your face All this time I've missed you And searched this human race Here is true peace Here my heart knows calm Safe in your soul Bathed in your sighs
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Moronicus
smokehousebacon.



Registered: 05/13/09
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Re: Zombie Ants Controlled by Fungus [Re: MushroomTrip]
#10876206 - 08/17/09 02:22 PM (14 years, 6 months ago) |
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mushrooms have controlled my brain before.
they made me take off my clothes, grope girls, ramble on street corners with apocalyptic signs, and get tased.
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BACON RANCH, FUCK YEAH A post about m00nshine Anonymous #6 said: Yes, it is. The shine stands for his job title, which is Shoe Shiner, the moon stands for the time he comes out to be a nigger, which is best suited for the negroid camouflage.
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Invisible_Woe


Registered: 05/25/07
Posts: 11,708
Loc: Mabase
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Re: Zombie Ants Controlled by Fungus [Re: MushroomTrip]
#10876210 - 08/17/09 02:22 PM (14 years, 6 months ago) |
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thaaaaats what that little stick with the ball at the end is on my head....well im gonna go die in a pile of dead wood and leaves
-------------------- These are not the answers you should be questioning.
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rodfarva
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Registered: 07/31/07
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Re: Zombie Ants Controlled by Fungus [Re: Invisible_Woe]
#10876763 - 08/17/09 03:54 PM (14 years, 6 months ago) |
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Quote:
Invisible_Woe said: thaaaaats what that little stick with the ball at the end is on my head....well im gonna go die in a pile of dead wood and leaves
HAHAHA lol
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justablip
shroom


Registered: 05/24/09
Posts: 132
Loc: indy
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Re: Zombie Ants Controlled by Fungus [Re: Invisible_Woe]
#10876778 - 08/17/09 03:57 PM (14 years, 6 months ago) |
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damn. that is some serious adaptation and evolution. I can't wait until they discover how the fungus does control ants brain. then again nothing good could come of the government getting their hands on brain control technology
-------------------- [quote]Little angel, go away... Come again some other day... Devil has my ear today... I'll never hear a word you say... He Promised I would find a little solace and some peace of mind... Whatever. just as long as I don't feel so desperate and ravenous. I'm so Weak and powerless over you...[/quote] -MJK
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caphillkid
Coquus Boleti

Registered: 10/09/08
Posts: 4,666
Loc: Jet City
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Re: Zombie Ants Controlled by Fungus [Re: justablip]
#10876935 - 08/17/09 04:21 PM (14 years, 6 months ago) |
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It's not just ants either. There are many types of this parasitic fungus that attack specific insects.
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burtonRebel


Registered: 12/02/06
Posts: 1,222
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Re: Zombie Ants Controlled by Fungus [Re: caphillkid]
#10877330 - 08/17/09 05:36 PM (14 years, 6 months ago) |
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fascinating yet horrifying.
-------------------- Wreck yourself before you check yourself
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pftek
1337


Registered: 08/18/08
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Re: Zombie Ants Controlled by Fungus [Re: caphillkid]
#10878539 - 08/17/09 08:57 PM (14 years, 6 months ago) |
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Quote:
caphillkid said: It's not just ants either. There are many types of this parasitic fungus that attack specific insects.
where's the human cordycep fungus? that's some crazy shit.
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tangoking
Lover of Boletes



Registered: 07/02/09
Posts: 952
Loc: New Jersey, USA
Last seen: 9 months, 18 days
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Re: Zombie Ants Controlled by Fungus [Re: pftek]
#10879869 - 08/18/09 12:15 AM (14 years, 6 months ago) |
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That is flipping crazy.
Quote:
pftek said:where's the human cordycep fungus?
Cancer?
Edited by tangoking (08/18/09 12:16 AM)
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elementswrath
Finger' trippin good



Registered: 08/04/09
Posts: 5,276
Loc: suiciety
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Re: Zombie Ants Controlled by Fungus [Re: MushroomTrip]
#10880014 - 08/18/09 12:48 AM (14 years, 6 months ago) |
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Quote:
MushroomTrip said:
Quote:
WalterShabas said: This freaks me out, and makes me really distrust mushrooms in general. Maybe mushrooms only make us trip balls so that we keep growing them! I for one am not going to be controlled by these evil fungus overlords!
Maybe the mushrooms wanted you to read this article so you stop growing them. 
that would make sense cause the government is ruled by mushrooms and he made the eating of the mushrooms illegal, aka "magic mushroom" so then it would help prevent the slaughter of the mushrooms, well i am going to eat them all and no mushrooms can stop me!
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tangoking
Lover of Boletes



Registered: 07/02/09
Posts: 952
Loc: New Jersey, USA
Last seen: 9 months, 18 days
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Re: Zombie Ants Controlled by Fungus [Re: pftek]
#10885373 - 08/18/09 07:43 PM (14 years, 6 months ago) |
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Quote:
pftek said:where's the human cordycep fungus?
Found it at the bottom of this page under "Miscellaneous Syndromes," ss. "Encephalopathy. Mushrooms: Haplopilus rutilans (=Haplopilus nidulans), Pleurocybella porrigens"
http://www.namyco.org/toxicology/poison_syndromes.html
Edited by tangoking (08/18/09 07:55 PM)
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Jorsher
Psychonaut



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Re: Zombie Ants Controlled by Fungus [Re: tangoking]
#10886335 - 08/18/09 10:17 PM (14 years, 6 months ago) |
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There is some information on these on Planet Earth.
Great series both for visuals and information.
Must watch in high-definition
-------------------- 5 shroom me!
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