1 Name: Firo : 2011-03-04 19:34 ID:TkIWsxf3 (Image: 450x338 jpg, 41 kb) [Del]
Originally thought to be a single species, called Ophiocordyceps unilateralis, the fungus is actually four distinct species--all of which can "mind control" ants--scientists announced Wednesday.
The fungus species can infect an ant, take over its brain, and then kill the insect once it moves to a location ideal for the fungi to grow and spread their spores.
Some of the fungi species create thin "infection pegs" that stick out from a victim's body and infect passing ants...
Other fungus species develop explosive spores on infected ants' bodies. When other ants come near the cadavers, the shooting spores can hit the unwitting passersby, turning them too into zombie ants.
2 Name: Paulie : 2011-03-04 21:03 ID:r+SgRsLD [Del]
Thats creepy and almost sounds un-realistic.
But Its cool C:
Could you imagine if this could spread to us D:
that'd be horrible D:
3 Name: Kangoshi : 2011-03-04 21:11 ID:jUU5oafB [Del]
That sounds really freaky...also reminds me of Parasect from Pokemon. :O
4 Name: Thanatos : 2011-03-05 07:59 ID:38oPiCbs [Del]
Is possible develop a weapon from this fungus? If is it, we're fucked. Zombie apocalypse right there.
5 Name: Ni~Ya : 2011-03-06 05:02 ID:7uSMUtSG [Del]
Freaky.... Pretty cool though :] This could be script for a horror movie made for ants... x3
6 Name: Kikkuri : 2011-03-06 06:49 ID:HoUarhxn [Del]
>>4 I just thought the same thing. o_o Plus mass mind control if some kind of weapon was developed to spread these explosive spores. Only that they would affect humans instead of ants.... Oh great...
7 Name: Enni : 2011-03-06 08:06 ID:ys+ztKas [Del]
Well, in all honesty it wouldn't be that easy.
It's a horrible way to infect someone like this. Yes it is airborne, but based on what I read, it seems that you have to be in close distance of this fungus to get infected.
Quarantine will seal the deal.
Besides, if some guy with some weird mushroom shit popping out of his body started lumbering towards me, I doubt I'll just stand there.
8 Name: Misuto : 2011-03-06 13:53 ID:9OU092iZ [Del]
>>7 on top of that, other ants have dveloped a behavioral pattern to get rid of the infected ones in their colony too. But as I understand it, the ants try to find a high vantage point to spread their spores even further than just close distance.
9 Name: Firo : 2011-03-06 20:53 ID:TkIWsxf3 [Del]
The scary thing about is there's more fungus out there that affect different insects. I watched a vid of it on YouTube and it's prett. Neat and scary at the same time. I'd share the link but I'm using my itouch at the moment since the computer is occupied.
10 Name: Lookie !.GhOWWhAnE : 2011-03-07 00:32 ID:EHChq33X [Del]
Shit I hope that fungus will not evolve to a fungus that will also affects human scary........................
11 Name: Kuro-kun : 2011-03-07 01:54 ID:ZmqLUZhm [Del]
Pretty crazy indeed...makes you seriously wonder about things.
12 Name: hibari kyoya : 2011-03-07 22:55 ID:sBpHnrGn [Del]
it makes me remember the zombies from high school of death
13 Name: Riida !BjUUR79XAc : 2011-03-08 00:00 ID:Wd1048+X [Del]
i can already see our future be like resident evil..
14 Name: Dusk : 2011-03-08 05:44 ID:lmSv62Pb [Del]
I agree with Riida, I'm seeing Resident Evil just by looking at that..
Or even Dead Rising!
15 Name: Lookie !.GhOWWhAnE : 2011-03-08 09:44 ID:EHChq33X [Del]
if resident evil I'll be happy to kill my crush's boyfriend *evil look*
16 Name: Dusk : 2011-03-08 15:03 ID:lmSv62Pb [Del]
Lol, if it turns out to be Resident Evil, then I'm happy to kill those that tries to hit on my girlfriend.
17 Name: Firo : 2011-03-09 16:51 ID:TkIWsxf3 [Del]
18 Name: Dusk : 2011-03-09 18:27 ID:lmSv62Pb [Del]
*highfives Frio*
19 Name: Celestial : 2011-03-09 23:14 ID:ryxv1dBf [Del]
now im afraid of ant zombies or any ants even though its not infected im still scared x.x
20 Name: Rabe-Chan : 2011-03-10 16:42 ID:C5mQQ0n6 [Del]
lol, i just read that on yahoo
21 Name: Restrained : 2011-03-10 17:25 ID:pMzm7oxA [Del]
Wow, that's kinda creepy but awesome at the same time. Bet you like us, some psycho is looking at this pic and trying to figure out how to bio-engineer this into a viable weapon.
And if this does somehow spread to humans, I doubt using a melee weapon like a sword would do anything more than infect you. That said, stockpiling for the (incredibly far off and probably unlikely) future starts tomorrow, I feel lazy.
And if this does result in humanoid zombies, then I am going to the nearest sports store and purchasing a compound bow and a shit tonne of arrows.
22 Name: Konton : 2011-03-11 14:18 ID:fOuM9ZCh [Del]
>>4 That's because the idea of Paras is based on this. It's evolved form, Parasect, is based on it as well. I will never evolve them again.
23 Name: MEh!8NBuQ4l6uQ : 2011-03-11 22:08 ID:rf04UqYA [Del]
lol.. i have to get one of those funguses and bring them back home so that all the pesky ants living and invading our trees would be killed...>.<
24 Name: Mage : 2011-03-14 05:51 ID:QFTszyXt [Del]
Silly Reply: OMG, the zombie apocalypse is starting with ants!
Serious-ish reply: Wow, that's so cool! And yet...creepy. Think maybe this was the inspiration for Paras?
25 Name: Misuto : 2011-03-14 14:10 ID:9OU092iZ [Del]
People sure don't like to read other peoples' posts, huh
>>24
26 Name: KuroBara : 2011-03-15 09:01 ID:234gl89f [Del]
no.. this is gross..
27 Name: Xero : 2011-03-19 23:05 ID:aJTbNLAc [Del]
Omg what if this fungus evolves to infect humans?
28 Name: £§Taiki§£ : 2011-03-19 23:23 ID:mwXc480r [Del]
i agree with xero o.o though this is really cool =3=
29 Name: tsukiginkoneko : 2011-03-21 18:14 ID:w1G70+Q+ [Del]
wow what a discover, i was woundering what that was about on the diffrent little news things. so this fungi has grown to control ants? i've heard of the fungi that can grow on animals or in them but this is quite intresting
30 Name: Nobody : 2011-03-26 12:15 ID:QCZmmYgR [Del]
KILL IT WITH FIRE! XD
31 Name: Misuto : 2011-04-09 01:27 ID:DySgr6oE [Del]
Bumping because Hart was curious.
32 Name: Celestial Envoy : 2011-04-09 19:15 ID:0nZ0cqJw [Del]
Knew this day would come, well at least im in the Navy so give me the word to change my ships mission and point our 24" guns to another location...
33 Name: Natsu : 2011-04-14 13:28 ID:Dh8IYE9M [Del]
Oh damn I hope it wont spread too much..
34 Name: Sirnak : 2011-04-16 14:19 ID:qClccGRw [Del]
Let's make a horrible movie about that with great special effects and annouce it's 3D.
Then we'll get rich.
35 Name: Sheero : 2011-04-18 00:25 ID:UgBwX/ll [Del]
That is one scary ant.
*Shivers. But it looks cool somehow.
Anyways, that fungus is freaking me out.
It can take over it's brain. =)) XD
36 Name: Celestial Envoy : 2011-04-21 00:33 ID:gpT/1jBV [Del]
>>34 Thats not a bad idea there... anyone here a director?
37 Name: PeiJing : 2011-04-22 04:45 ID:qfHuS1Mu [Del]
I wanna be a director. Does it count?
38 Name: megane : 2011-04-25 03:05 ID:IyDlHvtj [Del]
I'm glad there's no fungi that can control humans...
