Sarah Brown
Ophiocordyceps unilateralis, commonly known as the zombie-ant fungus, is an insect-pathogenic fungus that infects ants and alters their behaviour before killing them. The fungus is largely pantropical and thrives in warm, humid environments. While it is not a mushroom, it does grow a fruiting body out of the head of its ant host, which releases spores to infect other insects.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Common name | Zombie-ant fungus |
| Scientific name | Ophiocordyceps unilateralis |
| Genus | Ophiocordyceps |
| Type | Insect-pathogenic fungus |
| Infects | Ants, spiders, beetles, ghost moth caterpillars, Japanese cicadas |
| Ant tribe | Camponotini |
| Ant genus | Camponotus |
| Ant species | Carpenter ants |
| Environment | Tropical rainforests, warm-temperate forest systems |
| Life cycle | Infects ants through spores, reproduces by filling the host body with spores, compels the host to seek height and remain there before expelling spores to infect other insects |
| Reproduction time | 4-10 days |
| Secondary metabolism | Produces substances with potential use as human immunomodulatory, anti-infective, and anticancer agents |
| Brain invasion | No trace of fungal cells found in the brain |
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What You'll Learn
Ophiocordyceps unilateralis is a parasitic fungus
Ophiocordyceps unilateralis, commonly known as the zombie-ant fungus, is a parasite that infects, manipulates, and kills ants, predominantly in tropical forest ecosystems. It was discovered by British naturalist Alfred Russel Wallace in 1859.
O. unilateralis is a specialized parasite that infects formicine ants, particularly carpenter ants (genus Camponotus), and alters their behaviour before killing them. The fungus is largely pantropical and thrives in warm, humid environments, which are ideal for its growth and reproduction.
The infection process of O. unilateralis begins with the fungus infecting a foraging ant through spores that attach and penetrate the exoskeleton. As the infection advances, the fungus takes control of the ant's behaviour, compelling it to leave its nest and descend to a lower height more suitable for fungal growth. The infected ant is then driven to sink its jaws into a leaf vein, typically on the underside of a leaf, where it remains until death.
After the ant dies, O. unilateralis feeds on its host's innards and sends a fruiting body out through the base of the ant's head. This ruptures to release the fungus's spores, which can then infect other nearby insects. The process, leading up to mortality, typically takes 4-10 days.
O. unilateralis is known to engage in an active secondary metabolism, producing substances with potential human medicinal applications, such as immunomodulators, anti-infectives, and anticancer agents. While O. unilateralis itself is a parasite, it is also susceptible to fungal infection by other fungi, which can limit its impact on ant populations.
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It infects ants and alters their behaviour
Ophiocordyceps unilateralis, commonly known as the zombie-ant fungus, is an insect-pathogenic fungus that infects ants and alters their behaviour. It was discovered by British naturalist Alfred Russel Wallace in 1859. The fungus primarily targets carpenter ants (genus Camponotus) from the tribe Camponotini.
The fungus infects ants through spores that attach to and penetrate the exoskeleton, slowly taking over the ant's behaviour. The spores use a combination of enzymes and pressure to drill into the ant's exoskeleton. Once the infection reaches a critical stage, the ant's behaviour changes. Infected ants leave their canopy nests and foraging trails for the forest floor, which has a temperature and humidity suitable for fungal growth.
The infected ants are compelled to descend to a vantage point about 10 inches off the ground, where they sink their jaws into a leaf vein, typically on the north side of a plant, and wait for death. The fungus feeds on the ant's innards until it is ready for the final stage. Several days after the ant has died, the fungus sends a fruiting body out through the base of the ant's head, releasing spores that infect new ants. This process, leading up to mortality, takes 4–10 days.
O. unilateralis has evolved to parasitize ants for 45 million years, and during this time, it has not infected mammals. Most species of O. unilateralis are only able to infect one specific host ant species. Researchers have discovered that O. unilateralis includes many different species, with 35 known species that can control the behaviour of ants. However, it is hypothesized that there may be hundreds more.
O. unilateralis has gained popularity due to its resemblance to the fungus in the video game "The Last of Us" and its appearance in the game "Cult of the Lamb." While the fungus does not invade the brain, it is believed to interfere with the ant's nervous system and control the host's muscles.
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The fungus is also known as 'zombie-ant fungus'
Ophiocordyceps unilateralis, commonly known as the zombie-ant fungus, is an insect-pathogenic fungus. It was discovered by British naturalist Alfred Russel Wallace in 1859. The zombie-ant fungus is known for its ability to infect and manipulate the behaviour of ants, earning it its ominous moniker.
The fungus primarily infects ants from the tribe Camponotini, including carpenter ants (genus Camponotus). The infection process begins when an ant comes into contact with the fungus's spores, which attach themselves to the ant's exoskeleton and begin to drill into its exterior using a combination of enzymes and pressure. Once inside, the fungal cells feed on the ant's insides and spread throughout its body.
As the infection progresses, O. unilateralis alters the behavioural patterns of the infected ant. This manipulation is very specific and is geared towards benefiting the fungus's growth and transmission. Infected ants exhibit full-body convulsions, causing them to fall from their canopy nests to the forest floor. They then climb up plant stems and use their mandibles to secure themselves to a leaf vein at a specific height, temperature, and humidity that are optimal for fungal growth.
The reproductive stage of the fungus involves the growth of fruiting bodies from the ant's head, which eventually rupture to release spores. These spores can then infect other nearby insects. While O. unilateralis is known for its impact on ant populations, it is susceptible to fungal infection itself, which can limit its spread.
The zombie-ant fungus has gained popularity in popular culture, with its unique characteristics inspiring storylines in video games and television series. Its ability to manipulate host behaviour has sparked interest among scientists, who continue to study the complex relationships between microbes and animals.
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It was discovered by British naturalist Alfred Russel Wallace in 1859
Ophiocordyceps unilateralis, commonly known as the zombie-ant fungus, is not a mushroom. It is an insect-pathogenic fungus that infects ants and alters their behaviour before killing them. The fungus is largely pantropical and primarily infects carpenter ants (genus Camponotus). It was discovered by British naturalist Alfred Russel Wallace in 1859.
Zombie ants, infected by the Ophiocordyceps unilateralis fungus, are predominantly found in tropical rainforests. These fungi thrive in warm, humid environments, which are ideal for their growth and reproduction. However, they can also be found in warm-temperate forest systems. The fungus primarily targets ants from the tribe Camponotini, including carpenter ants.
O. unilateralis infects ants of the tribe Camponotini, with the full pathogenesis being characterised by an alteration of the behavioural patterns of the infected ant. Infected hosts leave their canopy nests and foraging trails for the forest floor, an area with a temperature and humidity suitable for fungal growth. They then use their mandibles to attach themselves to a major vein on the underside of a leaf, where the host remains after its eventual death. This distinctive "death grip" bite leaves a very distinct scar on the leaves.
The process leading up to mortality takes 4–10 days and includes a reproductive stage where fruiting bodies grow from the ant's head, rupturing to release the fungus's spores. O. unilateralis is, in turn, also susceptible to fungal infection itself, an occurrence that can limit its impact on ant populations, which has otherwise been known to devastate ant colonies.
The discovery of Ophiocordyceps unilateralis was made by British naturalist Alfred Russel Wallace in 1859. Wallace was a pioneering naturalist and explorer who made significant contributions to the fields of biology and geography. He is best known for his work on the theory of evolution by natural selection, which he developed independently of Charles Darwin. Wallace's discovery of O. unilateralis added to his extensive body of work and contributed to our understanding of fungal infections and their impact on insect behaviour.
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The fungus is found in tropical forest ecosystems
Ophiocordyceps unilateralis, commonly known as the zombie-ant fungus, is an insect-pathogenic fungus. It is found predominantly in tropical forest ecosystems, although it can also be found in warm-temperate forest systems. These fungi thrive in warm, humid environments, which are ideal for their growth and reproduction.
The fungus is found in tropical rainforests located in Brazil, Australia, Thailand, and temperate forests in South Carolina, Florida, and Japan. It has a pantropical forest distribution on formicine hosts, meaning it is found on hosts in various tropical regions worldwide.
O. unilateralis infects ants of the tribe Camponotini, including carpenter ants (genus Camponotus). The fungus alters the behavioural patterns of the infected ant, causing it to leave its canopy nest and move to the forest floor, an area with a temperature and humidity suitable for fungal growth. The infected ant then uses its mandibles to attach itself to a major vein on the underside of a leaf, where it remains until its eventual death.
The process leading up to mortality takes 4-10 days and includes a reproductive stage where fruiting bodies grow from the ant's head, rupturing to release the fungus's spores. These spores then infect other nearby insects, continuing the cycle of infection and reproduction.
The interactions between O. unilateralis and its hosts are complex, and the fungus represents a species complex itself. Studies have revealed unexpected diversity within O. unilateralis, suggesting that there may be tens or even hundreds of species within the complex that have yet to be discovered.
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Frequently asked questions
No, Ophiocordyceps unilateralis, or the zombie-ant fungus, is an insect-pathogenic fungus that infects ants and alters their behaviour before killing them.
Ophiocordyceps unilateralis infects ants, predominantly in tropical forest ecosystems, by attaching and penetrating their exoskeletons. It then takes control of the ant's behaviour, forcing it to leave its nest and move to a more humid microclimate that is favourable to the fungus's growth. The ant is then compelled to bite into a leaf vein, where it remains until its eventual death. After the ant has died, the fungus sends a fruiting body out through the base of the ant's head, using the corpse as a launchpad to jettison its spores and infect new ants.
While Ophiocordyceps unilateralis does not infect humans, it is not impossible for a fungus to manipulate human behaviour. For example, psilocybin, or "magic mushrooms", is a species of fungus that can alter a human's mental processing.
Studying Ophiocordyceps unilateralis can help us understand the biodiversity of fungi in tropical forests and their role in ecosystem functioning. Additionally, natural products chemists are interested in the species' ability to produce substances with potential applications in human immunomodulation, anti-infective treatments, and anticancer agents.
