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Zombie Ants!

Posted: Mon May 09, 2011 10:09 pm
by Omphalos

Re: Zombie Ants!

Posted: Tue May 10, 2011 3:09 am
by Liege-Killer
Similar to one I read about a few years ago; in that case the fungus causes the ant to climb to the top of a blade of grass, so that the erupting spores can be caught by the wind.

Isn't nature awesome? :lol=:

Re: Zombie Ants!

Posted: Tue May 10, 2011 7:20 am
by Omphalos
I smell a Siffy movie in the making!

Re: Zombie Ants!

Posted: Tue May 10, 2011 9:41 am
by SandChigger
Really? How's that work? Is there like a gradation in the general Siffy stench, or an increase in the nose-hair burning acridity? :think:

:lol:

Re: Zombie Ants!

Posted: Thu May 12, 2011 12:50 pm
by Omphalos
SandChigger wrote:Really? How's that work? Is there like a gradation in the general Siffy stench, or an increase in the nose-hair burning acridity? :think:

:lol:
A general stench and a decent knowledge of the past.

Re: Zombie Ants!

Posted: Thu May 12, 2011 2:40 pm
by Hunchback Jack
There's some other parasite that forces ants to climb to the tops of blades of grass and wave their front legs around. They get eaten by birds, and the next stage of the parasite takes place inside the bird's stomach.

Or something like that. Can't remember the exact details.

HBJ

Re: Zombie Ants!

Posted: Fri May 13, 2011 6:57 am
by Freakzilla
There's a worm that gets into crickets and forces them to jump into water.

Re: Zombie Ants!

Posted: Fri May 13, 2011 7:12 am
by Liege-Killer
Hunchback Jack wrote:There's some other parasite that forces ants to climb to the tops of blades of grass and wave their front legs around. They get eaten by birds, and the next stage of the parasite takes place inside the bird's stomach.

Or something like that. Can't remember the exact details.
Yeah... that's what I was trying to remember. Parasite + grass + eaten by bird, rather than fungus + grass + wind. I knew there was some grass in there somewhere, damn it.

Re: Zombie Ants!

Posted: Fri May 13, 2011 7:26 am
by Freakzilla
Everything is better with a little grass. :wink:

Re: Zombie Ants!

Posted: Fri May 13, 2011 9:49 am
by Hunchback Jack
Parasites are fascinating. There's a book called "Parasite Rex" which I can recommend, if you "like" that sort of thing. Warning: it can be a bit disturbing.

HBJ

Re: Zombie Ants!

Posted: Fri May 13, 2011 10:36 am
by Freakzilla

Re: Zombie Ants!

Posted: Fri May 13, 2011 5:11 pm
by SandChigger
Yeah, there's a book I won't be looking for and a link I ain't gonna click! :lol:

There is (or used to be) a parasite museum somewhere in Tokyo.

Never been, obviously, and never plan to go. The stuff about it I've seen via the media was bad enough! (shudder) :hand:

Re: Zombie Ants!

Posted: Fri May 13, 2011 7:01 pm
by Hunchback Jack
Completely understandable reaction.

HBJ

Re: Zombie Ants!

Posted: Tue May 17, 2011 12:11 pm
by Liege-Killer
Hunchback Jack wrote:Parasites are fascinating. There's a book called "Parasite Rex" which I can recommend, if you "like" that sort of thing.
There's a copy on my bookshelf. Carl Zimmer is awesome. :handgestures-thumbup:

I think I've seen a few episodes of Monsters Inside Me, or some similar show.