Ophiocordyceps unilateralis, commonly known as zombie-ant fungus, [2] is an insect-pathogenic fungus, discovered by the British naturalist Alfred Russel Wallace in 1859. Zombie ants, infected by the Ophiocordyceps unilateralis fungus, are predominantly found in tropical rainforests.

3 days ago · zombie-ant fungus, (Ophiocordyceps unilateralis), species of parasitic fungus that infects ants and alters their behavior before killing them. The fungus is largely pantropical and primarily infects carpenter ants (genus Camponotus).

Feb 5, 2023 · In the post-apocalyptic world of “The Last of Us,” a rapidly spreading pandemic—in which a mutated Cordyceps fungus morphs people into zombie-like “infected”— besieges humanity.

Jan 25, 2023 · Fungi like the threat depicted in HBO’s new show are real and numerous, infecting a wide variety of insects, including butterflies, moths and beetles — and at least 35 species of the group...

Jan 26, 2023 · In the “Planet Earth” clip that inspired the game, an Ophiocordyceps fungus infects a bullet ant, writes Vox ’s Benji Jones. The fungus grows inside the insect, turning about half its body...

May 23, 2024 · Ophiocordyceps unilateralis is a parasitic fungus that infects carpenter ants. Parasitic fungi are not uncommon in the insect world, but what makes O. unilateralis uniquely creepy, and why it’s called the “zombie fungus,” is the strange way O. unilateralis affects the behavior of an ant for its own propagation.

Apr 18, 2019 · The Ophiocordyceps unilateralis fungus has just one goal: self-propagation and dispersal. Researchers think the fungus, found in tropical forests, infects a foraging ant through spores that...

Oct 28, 2024 · Not all fungi are scary, and even the alarming ones won’t turn you into the walking dead. The closest you’re likely to come to a zombifying fungus is through watching scary movies or playing video games. If you’re lucky, you might find a …

4 days ago · The zombie-ant fungus exemplifies nature’s ability to adapt and thrive in diverse environments. Its sophisticated methods of survival and reproduction are a testament to evolutionary ingenuity. By studying such organisms, we gain a greater appreciation for the complexities of life and the endless strategies employed by species to endure.

Oct 22, 2024 · This fungus inspired the video game and HBO series "The Last of Us," in which a widespread fungal infection turns people into zombie-like creatures and causes society to collapse. In the real world, ants usually comes into contact with this fungus when spores – pollen-size reproductive particles that the fungus makes – fall onto the ant ...