Zombies are real – just ask the parasites taking over the bodies and brains of insects and rodents, leading them to their doom
Parasitic fungi, wasps, worms and amoeba can control the behavior of their hosts in various horrifying ways.
Parasites and fungi possess an unsettling ability to manipulate the behavior of insects and rodents, often leading them to their demise. This phenomenon has inspired various forms of popular culture, from Michael Jackson's "Thriller" music video to HBO's "The Last of Us." While these examples are fictional, they capture the same unsettling idea: can one organism take control of another, even after death?
In nature, the answer is not entirely fictional. Some parasites and fungi can alter the behavior of a living host to benefit themselves. The most well-known example is the "zombie ant" fungus, Ophiocordyceps, which infects ants and forces them to leave their colony, climb vegetation, and bite into a leaf or twig, attaching themselves in a death grip. This behavior places the ant in a location that promotes fungal reproduction and spore dispersal.
Researchers have discovered that the fungus spreads throughout the ant's body, particularly around muscle fibers, but does not invade the brain. Instead, it manipulates the ant's muscles, causing extreme contractions. The fungus may also release molecules that affect muscle control, though the exact mechanisms remain unclear. The precise sequence of events leading to the ant's behavior change is still not fully understood, making the system a fascinating area of study for biomedical engineers and synthetic biologists.
Other organisms also engage in behavioral manipulation. The emerald jewel wasp, Ampulex compressa, injects venom into a cockroach's nervous system, reducing its motivation to move or escape. The wasp then leads the cockroach to its burrow for laying eggs. Hairworms infect praying mantises or crickets, causing the host to become attracted to light, which draws it toward water, where the worm can escape and continue its life cycle.
While the specific mechanisms behind these behavioral changes are still being investigated, the results are a testament to the extraordinary adaptability of parasites and fungi.
Written by urgent.news from The Conversation's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
