Zombie ants controlled by fungus

[Maguspk]

Bitches don't know 'bout Planet Earth.

Saw this when watching Planet Earth, they are specialized fungi and exist for a majority of insects. They serve to regulate population by infecting and then exploding out from the insect and spreading to those nearby, if an insect is too successful it's corresponding fungi will thrive and regulate the population. What's really fascinating is that the ants will notice an individual is infected and attack them and carry them away from the nest so that when they explode they aren't going to infect nearby ants.

They have a special name, I'll post it when I've found it..

They are called Cordyceps, here's a video of an infection and the subsequent fungi growth, very cool. I recommend watching Planet Earth if you haven't already.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XuKjBIBBAL8&

[Ikith]

Is that the only video or is there one of the other fungi that infects ants (the one mentioned in the OP). Or is it the same thing?

[Maguspk]

The fungus described in the OP matches a Cordyceps perfectly, without a doubt it's a species of cordyceps as shown in the video above.

[Vuitton]

nature is fucking scary

[Shenrien]

nature is fucking badass

fix'd