Zombie Ant Parasite Controls Its Victims Like A Puppeteer

Sowmya Kolluru
Fri, 04 May 2018 11:34:31 -0700

A parasite that can transform ants into zombies and make them do its bidding may sound like something straight out of a science fiction movie. However, that is precisely what the Ophiocordyceps unilateralis, or, zombie ant fungus does to unsuspecting carpenter ants. Now, a new study has discovered that the fungus accomplishes this ghoulish feat without infecting the ant’s brain.