Show pageOld revisionsBacklinksBack to top You've loaded an old revision of the document! If you save it, you will create a new version with this data. Media Files "The spores of the fungus attach themselves to the external surface of the ant, where they germinate. They then enter the antÕs body through the tracheae (the tubes through which insects breathe), via holes in the exoskeleton called spiracles. Fine fungal filaments called mycelia then start to grow inside the antÕs body cavity, absorbing the hostÕs soft tissues but avoiding its vital organs. When the fungus is ready to sporulate, the mycelia grow into the antÕs brain. The fungus then produces chemicals which act on the hostÕs brain and alter its perception of pheromones. This causes the ant to climb a plant and, upon reaching the top, to clamp its mandibles around a leaf or leaf stem, thus securing it firmly to what will be its final resting place. The fungus then devours the antÕs brain, killing the host. The fruiting bodies of the fungus sprout from the antÕs head, through gaps in the joints of the exoskeleton. Once mature, the fruiting bodies burst, releasing clusters of capsules into the air. These in turn explode on their descent, spreading airborne spores over the surrounding area. These spores then infect other ants, completing the life cycle of the fungus. Depending on the type of fungus and the number of infecting spores, death of an infected insect takes between 4-10 days." http://neurophilosophy.wordpress.com/2006/11/20/brainwashed-by-a-parasite/ See it in action: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=o3t4v8PmY_Q Please fill all the letters into the box to prove you're human. Please keep this field empty: SavePreviewCancel Edit summary Note: By editing this page you agree to license your content under the following license: CC Attribution-Share Alike 4.0 International brain_fungus.1181292299.txt.gz Last modified: 2015-04-07 17:21(external edit)