Nope, no Zaku or GunPla posts this time. I've been away from GunPla for so long I'm losing my creativity. i can blame it on work, I suppose. *snicker! Then again, I got bills to pay. Sigh.
I found this article after checking my webmail: 'Zombie ant parasite' uncovered. And so, like some mindless drone, I started reading away. I remember thinking, this is "probably the inspiration for the zombie games and movies."
True enough, the header read:
Ants were being turned into zombies by a mind-control fungus 48 million years ago, scientists have learned.
Turns out the article that was posted "10hrs 57min ago" has been around for quite some time now. Good thing, because it means there are many a reference available, like this article here.
The parasitic fungus Ophiocordyceps unilateralis (aka Cordyceps unilateralis), once inside it's host [ant], develops by consuming non-vital soft-tissue. As soon as it is ready to spore, it takes control of the host's motor systems and has the ant "take root" in an optimum position. From there, it kills the ants and , using the dead ant as an anchor, sprouts so the wind can spread the spores. All this happens in 4 to 10 days.
Repositioning the dead ant is detrimental to the fungus. The ants have also developed a way to protect itself and the colony: they exile any infected member.
Here's another reference. This one has got good photos too.
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