Ant eating fungus

Discussion in 'Botany Photo of the Day Submissions' started by San, Jun 25, 2011.

  1. San

    San Member

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    I had previously submitted a pic of a bee killed by a Cordyceps in this forum. A few months ago, while trekking in northern Johore, we stopped by to examine another cadaver belonging to the Giant Forest Ant (Camponotus gigas), one of the largest species of ant in the world, reaching close to 3cm.

    Infected by an Ophiocordyceps fungus, it was brainwashed to climb to a higher staging area and anchor itself by biting on the leaf blade of a lallang. Here, it was summarily executed - fruiting bodies punched through the exoskeleton like Howitzer-guns, ready to fire spores which eventually fall to the ground to infect passing victims.

    Researchers had reported very surprising things about this fungus, like the fact that the it is very exact in its manoeuvre - dead ants invariabily face northwest, about 25 cm from the ground at sites with at least 90% humidity. Strangely, if the ant is allowed to die in its nest, the survival rate of the fungus is zero.

    References :
    D.P.Hughes et al, The Life of a Dead Ant: The Expression of an Adaptive Extended Phenotype. The American Naturalist, V173, no3 September 2009.
     

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  2. rootbboy

    rootbboy Active Member

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