"Zombie" Ants

   While researching the possible zombie threat I came across some very interesting and slightly terrifying data involving carpenter ants in the rainforests of Thailand and a strange fungus Ophiocordyceps (Science Cast). Research by David Hughes, from Pennsylvania State University, brings to light this fungus and how it works to make the carpenter ants into this living death state (Than). This fungus attacks the ant's nervous system causing causing them to stray from the colony, their muscles to break down, and even causes the infected ants to convulse violently mainly causing them to fall from the canopy to the ground cover below. If discovered by a worker ant from the colony and realizes that the ant is infected it will pick the infected ant up and literally throw it away from the colony so the rest do not suffer the same fate (Planet Earth). The main reason this falling occurs, besides the convulsions, is due to the fungus' main and only goal, to reproduce. The ground cover in the rain forests of Thailand is the perfect environment for the fungus to reproduce and spread to other ants.

     When the fungus realizes that it is in an ecosystem where it can successfully reproduce it starts the next process (Science Cast). On a side note the fungus can wait up to weeks for the ecosystem to become perfect, and further data shows that the fungus will wait for solar noon (or high noon) to begin it's process of reproduction (Than). The next process begins with the fungus forcing the ant host to latch onto a leaf stem and finally causing it go into lock jaw (even after death the ant will be unable to move). This is the last thing the ant does before the fungus gives it's final blow. The fungus then secretes a poison to the ant's brian and finally kills it's host. From there the fungus uses it's host's body and slowly grows out of it's brian, it can grow over weeks and eventually when it has spread enough the spores travel and infect another ant (Planet Earth). Form what is known today there are four different species of this fungus and research shows that each fungi is dedicated to only one specific species of ant.

     In modern culture we can see how this is related to zombies in many ways, with the main similarity being the technique of reproduction. From what we have learned form most zombie film and literature we know that the “zombie virus” spreads mainly through bites and mixing of blood. The zombie's only goal is to eat however not to reproduce, but when thinking about it the zombie will always reproduces when it eats due to the bites it is “programmed” to take. There fore the zombie is always producing just like the fungus. Another similarity is that even though the ant is not dead while the fungus rules it and a zombie is, the fungus still waits until it kills the ant to start reproduction and growth. This is similar to the zombie because it also has to be dead and in full control of the virus to spread and grow in numbers. After watching videos and reading articles I found something interesting. It was only mentioned and not in detail, however, some of the researches are trying to figure out a way to make this fungus into a household pesticide. Doesn't that seem to bring this strange and deathly “zombie” fungus too close to home, and what would be the consequences, if any?