Scientists uncover previously unknown 'zombie ants' in incredible outback discovery
We can now add fungi-controlled ants to the list of creatures roaming around Australia.
A fungus not yet known to modern science was recently discovered in a remote savannah in the Northern Territory, and its parasitic ability to infect ants with its spores and takeover its host has left scientists dubbing the incredible natural phenomenon as creating "zombie ants".
Dr François Brassard, a myrmecologist (someone who specialises in the study of ants) and postdoc researcher with The University of Western Australia, made the discovery and told Yahoo News he was "very excited to find these parasitised ants".
The fungus, he explained, takes over an ant's body in order to complete its life cycle.
"Spores will first infect an ant and, over the course of a few weeks, take control of the ant's body. It will then make the ant climb a piece of vegetation which the ant will then grip in its mandibles. This 'death-grip' is the ant's last act, as it soon dies in that position."
Soon after, the ant becomes a meal.
"The fungus will then consume the ant to accumulate enough energy to grow a fruiting body, which will then rain down spores on other unsuspecting ants," Dr Brassard told Yahoo.
"The reason why the fungi make ants climb vegetation to then clamp the underside of leaves is because it is a strategic position to 'shoot' spores on more ant targets."
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It was upon finding lots of dead ants on a recent Bush Blitz exhibition, a nationwide project focused on cataloguing the country's biodiversity, that Dr Brassard realised he'd stumbled onto something so unique. He took samples back to the university to show his colleague Sherie Bruce.
Initial research by Bruce suggests the fungi, called Ophiocordyceps, is a new discovery as "there are no records of the spiny savanna ant being infected by [this fungus]" as far as the team are aware.
"The parasite fungi could potentially be controlling the populations of this very common ant. However, the fungi may be quite rare or it could just be rarely noticed! Further studies could evaluate its prevalence and impact on ants and local ecosystems," Dr Brassard said.
"Sherie and I are both determined and excited to figure this out."
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