http://www.guardian.co.uk/science/2010/ ... ant-fungus



This is the first time I heard of it, so the whole thing is a big surprise to me.

not like ants have the largest brains in the world

That's slightly disturbing, actually. I don't know why.

I heard about that a year ago or so.

Not with carpenter ants though, some kind in the jungle or something.

Wow, I've never heard of that either but it is a little bit disturbing.
That's a lot like the pokemon paras.

Let's just hope that fungi don't decide to take over the world...

But at least they're fun guys.

Ah ha ha ha ha no.

Actually, these carpanter ants live in the rainforests of southern Thailand, according to the article. The fungi seem to only use one species of ant as host and needs very special conditions, hence the trick of the kiss of death.

That makes me feel so much better.

If I remember correctly, there's different subsets for various insects, including moths.

The funny thing is, the fungi has no idea what it does to the ant, it just comes out when it's ready to spread it's spores.

Yes, I do not believe a colony of fungi have a mind either. Otherwise I bet they'd be schizophrenic. They problably just respond to environmental factors like humidity, incedent light and maybe more, releasing different toxins depending on the circumstances, controlling the ant in a different way. Maybe controlling is actually too suggestive. It is very remarkable, though.