It was a strange sight. This ant, firmly gripping the blade of grass with its mandibles and legs, was obviously dead. Fungus was growing on it.
I searched the web for an answer and found this 3-minute clip. Hear what Sir David Attenborough has to say about killer fungi: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XuKjBIBBAL8
Another absolutely incredible capture, Livia. Thanks for the info, and now I'm curious how they know that it's brain has been infected??? BTW, the music is creepy.
That is some crazy fungi! Maybe you could go back in a couple weeks to see if it has anything growing out of its head. Great shot, and very interesting video:)
A great, big, unusual and fascinating "THANK YOU!" to everyone for stopping by! Nature is incredible. I do feel sorry for the ant, and any other insect, that falls prey to the killer fungus. Eep. Let's hope the fungus doesn't ever mutate to affect humans that way too.
Again, thank you for your constant support. I am grateful.
I remember this from the Planet Earth series. They were showing some tropical insects that were "attacked" by fungi. Pretty gruesome stuff- eating your insides out and finally destroying your brain!
I show that video clip of the cordyceps fungi in my class every year! So fascinating ... and it certainly does look like what's described in the video.
@claireuk Nope, I didn't find this in the parks I usually go to but rather in a nature reserve. Shot is grainy because I usually don't get enough light in the nature reserve, on account of the canopy in the forest, which is why I rarely go there. XD
Incredible find and capture. I once saw in tv where there's a type of plant that plants its seeds inside a smaller creature if its unlucky enough to rub against it. They did a time lapse video of some bug that did. Within days, it becomes sluggish, confused, then becomes still, apparently dead. Then a plant grows out of it. Its a scary world out there.
love it livia
thanks for sharing
Again, thank you for your constant support. I am grateful.