The silent invasion
The puppet master
The death grip
Evolutionary warfare
YOUR GOAL
Master of The zombie ant fungus
misslily The fungus uses bioactive chemicals to alter the ant's central nervous system.
misslily Fungal cells link together to form a physical network that directly moves the ant's limbs.
misslily Steer the zombie ant up the stem to learn how the fungus controls its host.
Brain intact: Despite controlling every step, the zombie fungus never actually enters or damages the ant's brain.
A species of tropical, parasitic fungus that infects and alters the behavior of ants. British naturalist Alfred Russel Wallace first discovered this mind-controlling organism in Indonesia in 1859.
In what year did Penn State University researchers discover that the fungus controls muscles without entering the brain?
What tool did scientists use in 2017 to map the fungal cells inside the ant's body?
What physical symptom occurs when the fungus begins taking over the ant's motor control?
Where do infected ants typically end up after falling from the high canopy due to muscle spasms?
What system in the ant's body does the fungal chemical cocktail primarily target to override self-control?
Which organ does the zombie ant fungus surprisingly leave completely intact while controlling the ant?