What is A Zombie Ant?
By DB
@dgobucks226 (34364)
June 17, 2020 5:27pm CST
I came across some cool and crazy ant facts I thought I'd share.
I'm sure most of us know ants are very strong lifting over 50 times their weight. That's the same as an average person picking up a car! But did you know ants have to be wary of fungal parasites because they can turn them into "zombies."
Yes, a kind of Walking Dead ant! Here's how it works...
The fungus invades the insect’s (ants) body, draining it of nutrients and hijacking its mind. Over the course of a week it compels the ant to climb vegetation and bite into the underside of leaves or twigs, where the ants die.
What happens is described as giving the ant lockjaw, actually resulting in a death bite. The fungal spores then feed on the ants body.
Guess humans are not the only ones who are susceptible to a virus or other germs. Pretty crazy right!
Source- www.sciencenews.org
Photo- wired.com
12 people like this
13 responses
@dgobucks226 (34364)
•
18 Jun 20
Yes, never thought insect mind control was one of them,lol.
1 person likes this
@allen0187 (58444)
• Philippines
18 Jun 20
I wonder what is worse - a horde of human zombies or a horde of zombie ants?
1 person likes this
@dgobucks226 (34364)
•
18 Jun 20
Ha, ha! Or a horde of unsuspecting fungi spores 
1 person likes this
@allen0187 (58444)
• Philippines
19 Jun 20
@dgobucks226 fungi spores would be the worst in my opinion.
1 person likes this
@LadyDuck (458091)
• Switzerland
19 Jun 20
@dgobucks226 For the moment there is nothing like this in humans world, but brainwashing is doing the same kind of damages.
1 person likes this
@dgobucks226 (34364)
•
18 Jun 20
Yes, it seems in the insect world, as in the animal world, danger lurks everywhere.
1 person likes this
@dgobucks226 (34364)
•
18 Jun 20
I know! And I thought getting bitten by a mosquito was creepy. The poor ant 
1 person likes this
@LowRiderX (22907)
• Serbia
18 Jun 20
@dgobucks226 Why do you read things like this?
1 person likes this
@Miracle_Maya (2244)
• India
18 Jun 20
Yes, I remember watching about this in some documentary on Netflix quite a while ago. Just can't remember the name. I bet it's pretty scary for the poor ants
1 person likes this
@Miracle_Maya (2244)
• India
19 Jun 20
@dgobucks226 I dare say COVID is better than this kind of thing! I can't imagine living a Zombie movie in real life!!
I dare say COVID is better than this kind of thing! I can't imagine living a Zombie movie in real life!!1 person likes this
@rsa101 (37952)
• Philippines
18 Jun 20
That is really an interesting fact and I guess everyone has their own health issues in their species. I just hope that fungal wont think to find a much bigger victim like us. Most of the viral, bacterial or any of that sorts kind of health issues starts from animals that mutate themselves to be able to affect other species like us.
1 person likes this
@dgobucks226 (34364)
•
18 Jun 20
Yes, it is quite amazing what dangerous microbes are found in the environment. Size definitely does not matter with germs.
1 person likes this
@rsa101 (37952)
• Philippines
19 Jun 20
@dgobucks226 True thay are the real enemy unseen by many.
1 person likes this
@dgobucks226 (34364)
•
18 Jun 20
Hopefully they just stick with insects. Imagine if they attacked us like athlete's foot does. It might be a lot worse than itchy skin.
1 person likes this
@much2say (53959)
• Los Angeles, California
19 Jun 20
@dgobucks226 I'll take the plain ol' athlete's food .
.1 person likes this
@dgobucks226 (34364)
•
18 Jun 20
Yes true, size does not matter when it comes to diseases...
1 person likes this
@LindaOHio (156157)
• United States
18 Jun 20
I can't stand ants as it is; and this is disgusting! Ewww Thanks for the interesting information though!
1 person likes this
@dgobucks226 (34364)
•
22 Jun 20
I agree. Ants and flies are not welcome at anyone's picnic. And apparently not around fungi either...
1 person likes this
@FayeHazel (40248)
• United States
18 Jun 20
Oh that is just scary. That's worse than most of Stephen King even
1 person likes this
@dgobucks226 (34364)
•
18 Jun 20
Yes, stuff suitable for a screenplay. The attack of the fungi spores! Insects beware!
1 person likes this
@dgobucks226 (34364)
•
18 Jun 20
Yes, what is left of him. There are fungi spores growing out of his head and body, yikes. 
The ant becomes a host for the fungi to feed off...
The ant becomes a host for the fungi to feed off...