"Zombie" Ants Found With New Mind-Control Fungi

Before we start getting to smug about our sense of free will, let me just point out that there are widespread human brain parasites.

One example is Toxoplama Gondii, which infects roughly 1/3 of the world's population.

Studies have shown relationships between everything from increased car accidents to Bipolar disorder. Some have even suggested its distribution across regions affects human culture.

http://discovermagazine.com/2007/feb/toxoplasma-gondii-cultu...

So nothing to worry about until the fungus decides it likes brains more than sunlight?

And IIRC, snail flukes do a similar thing: When they are ready to move from their snail host, they migrate into its eye stalks, which turn bright colors. The infected snail loses its fear of open spaces and climbs onto a branch or leaf, where a passing bird spots what looks like juicy worms and pecks off the stalks.

The fluke is now in the bird's digestive system, and it starts manufacturing eggs. The eggs are embedded in the new host's guano, which falls to the ground.

A passing snail eats the guano and becomes infected with flukes, starting the cycle anew.

Update:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EWB_COSUXMw

Some varieties use three or more hosts. Dawkins describes one parasite that infects snails, birds, and sheep in turn.

This video shows ants and other insects attacked by Cordyceps. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XuKjBIBBAL8

First thing I thought of. It's quite a wild little segment. A worker ant has to carry the infected ant away from the rest of the colony. Eventually the infected ant dies, and this alien looking fungus sprouts of of his head. The fungus then releases a bunch of spores (meant to infect other ants) so it's a good thing he was dragged away from the colony! The whole Planet Earth series is absolutely amazing, do yourself a favor and watch them all if you haven't.

Link: http://www.mjt.org/exhibits/foundation_collections/stink_ant...