Parasitic zombie-ant fungus thrives in mosses, too
This may help fungi survive host scarcity and explains why infected hosts prefer the mosses as death sites.
The parasitic fungus Cordyceps, often showcased in nature documentaries and the video game The Last of Us, has now been found thriving within mosses, according to a new study. This revelation, published in the journal IMA Fungus, suggests the fungus may have a secondary life stage inside the moss, potentially serving as a survival mechanism during periods when insect hosts are scarce.
The discovery could also explain why the host species often seek out mosses during their final moments. There are over 400 species of Cordyceps, each specifically targeting a particular insect species, such as ants, dragonflies, cockroaches, aphids, or beetles. Once inside the host, the fungus spreads through the body using long, thread-like structures called mycelia, effectively transforming the insect into a "zombie" that clamps onto a plant.
Written by urgent.news from Ars Technica's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — it may contain errors, so check the original before relying on it.
This story
This is one outlet's version. Read the fullest account.
- Parasitic zombie-ant fungus thrives in mosses, too arstechnica.com
