re: #184 DaddyG

You know. The them in “us vs. them”.

Speaking of Them.

‘Zombie Ants’ Controlled by Parasite Existed 46 Million Years Ago

Zombie ants,” or carpenter ants that are transformed into “zombies” by parasitic fungus, existed as far back as 48 million years ago, scientists have discovered.

Evidence of the parasitism was found on a fossilized leaf that grew in the Messel Pit, located in Germany, and was discovered by the University of Exeter’s Dr. David P. Hughes, who studies parasites that can take over the minds of their hosts. News of their findings was published on the university’s website.

The fungus, Ophiocordyceps unilateralis, has the ability to control the minds of infected carpenter ants and lead them away from their colony to a leaf that is an ideal reproductive site for the fungus.