from the places-where-parasitic-fungi-grow dept.
It is the oldest example of an ant infected by a fungal parasite ever found.
Scientists have identified a new species of extinct parasitic fungus bursting from the backside of a 50 million-year-old ant, all perfectly preserved in amber.
In addition to the bulbous mushroom protruding from the ant's rectum, evidence of the freaky fungus can be seen throughout the body of its unlucky host. The ant likely died as a result of its fungal infection and was fortuitously fixed in tree resin (which fossilizes into amber) shortly afterward. It is the oldest example of a fungal parasite ever discovered in ants.
[....] "These types of discoveries are extremely rare," George Poinar Jr., an entomologist at Oregon State University who helped pioneer the extraction of DNA from amber, told Live Science. "The amber resin contains chemicals that fixes cells and tissues and also destroys associated microbes that would normally decompose specimens."
[....] The main difference between A. baltica and Ophiocordyceps is where their mushroom emerges from an ant. The mushroom, or ascomata, acts as the reproductive organ of the fungi, releasing spores into the environment. Ophiocordyceps fungi grow their ascomata around the neck and head of their host ants; the fungi hijack the host ants’ brain in a form of mind control, which the fungi use to force the ants to bite into plants where other carpenter ants lay their eggs. This enables the fungi to release their spores in areas with a high concentration of potential new hosts.
In the final paragraph, it was particularly interesting how "the fungi hijack the host ants’ brain in a form of mind control".
(Score: 0, Troll) by Tork on Wednesday June 30 2021, @10:39PM (5 children)
Did Rudy discover it while looking for proof the election was stolen?
🏳️🌈 Proud Ally 🏳️🌈
(Score: 1, Insightful) by Tork on Thursday July 01 2021, @12:19AM (2 children)
🏳️🌈 Proud Ally 🏳️🌈
(Score: -1, Offtopic) by Anonymous Coward on Thursday July 01 2021, @02:06AM (1 child)
Did Tork mod himself "interesting?"
(Score: 2) by Tork on Thursday July 01 2021, @04:59AM
Gimme some credit, if I'm gonna masterbate with mod points I'm gonna mod a remark like that funny, not interesting or insightful.
🏳️🌈 Proud Ally 🏳️🌈
(Score: 2, Funny) by FatPhil on Thursday July 01 2021, @06:23AM
Great minds discuss ideas; average minds discuss events; small minds discuss people; the smallest discuss themselves
(Score: 1, Funny) by Anonymous Coward on Thursday July 01 2021, @01:44PM
Rudy pulled it out of his ass, the ant didn't.
(Score: 1) by mydn on Wednesday June 30 2021, @10:40PM
Wrecked 'em? Looks like it killed 'em.
(Score: 0) by Anonymous Coward on Wednesday June 30 2021, @11:03PM (6 children)
It's like that cat thing. Maybe this is why we hate each other and make up stupid reasons to fight wars. Our brains are all infected
(Score: 2) by FatPhil on Thursday July 01 2021, @06:30AM (1 child)
That's not the thing that causes wars - this is the thing that causes wars: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Y_chromosome
Great minds discuss ideas; average minds discuss events; small minds discuss people; the smallest discuss themselves
(Score: 2) by Opportunist on Thursday July 01 2021, @07:29AM
Nobody who loves cats can be an evil person or start a war or other atrocity.
*pets snow white Persian on lap*
(Score: 2) by crafoo on Thursday July 01 2021, @07:53AM (2 children)
Every organism battles and competes for resources. Resources are limited. Your argument is with nature itself. That path leads to madness and the most horrific crimes against humanity ever executed.
(Score: 0) by Anonymous Coward on Thursday July 01 2021, @08:09PM
Man has risen above nature. Unlike wild animals, man can limit his reproduction to prevent this conflict over resources.
(Score: 0) by Anonymous Coward on Saturday July 03 2021, @03:51PM
bitcoin?
drm?
lawyers?
copyright law?
religion?
the list of crimes against humanity is extensive and soaked in blood and gold
(Score: 2) by DannyB on Thursday July 01 2021, @01:42PM
It is rather amazing to me that fungi could somehow manipulate the brain of a host organism, in such an organized way as to influence that organism's behavior in a very specific way to the benefit of the fungi.
Next we'll have programming languages, advertisements, and subliminal sounds from smart speakers that can influence our brains in ways which change our behavior to the benefit of corporations.
The lower I set my standards the more accomplishments I have.
(Score: -1, Troll) by Anonymous Coward on Thursday July 01 2021, @06:39AM
Interesting. Was the ant's name "Runaway" and the fungus Fox News? I feel we are on the verge of a great scientific breakthrough!!