Cool Science:Fungal parasites brainwash insects, causing eventual head eruption!

[CarlKillerMiller]

Article with video

I came across this while writing up an article review on behavior-altering parasitism. Most examples of this phenomenon are a lot less drastic. For example, some parasites in mice cause them to move away from warm areas and into cool ones, while other cause a decreased amount of movement. Other forms of behavior-altering parasitism aren't chemical, either, such as parasitic cowbirds forcing other birds to change their nest structures. This example really takes the cake, though.

Enjoy, science lovers of ATOT!

PS: For geeks, here's the link to a scientific journal article which studies a similar parasite.

Journal Article[

Behavior-altering parasitism in snails

 

[DainBramaged]

I don't know how, but that picture in the first link got me rather excited.

 

[d33pt]

reminds me of this one episode of the xfiles. they probably got the idea from this.

 

[LordMaul]

Originally posted by: DainBramaged
I don't know how, but that picture in the first link got me rather excited.

:Q

 

[kinev]

That is cool stuff! The worms on the bottom of the page are cool, too.

That snail one is awesome!

 

[silverpig]

That's almost as cool as that wasp that uses mind control on zombie bugs to make them dig their own graves before they become baby wasp food.

 

[Xyo II]

Originally posted by: d33pt
reminds me of this one episode of the xfiles. they probably got the idea from this.

Where the giant fungus secretes psychoactive chemicals which make the people go crazy, and then it digests them? That was a great episode 😀

 

[judasmachine]

i'll watch any with john cleese. (if that was him narrarating)

 

[Epic Fail]

The video is from BBC's Planet Earth, one of the most amazing series on animals, not to mention the neatest camera shots too.

The narrator of the series is David Attenborough, he narrated a lot of the other natural science documentaries.

 

[Azndude51]

I've actually seen the one about the snails on TV. I think the frog video at the bottom of the article is cool, I can't believe a fungus would fight it's way out of the mouth.