Attack of Zombie Ants?

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In Thailand, the fungus (Ophiocordyceps camponoti-balzani) is turning ants into "zombies". At first, the fungus takes over the ant's nervous system causing it to stray from the rest of ants, but eventually it controls the ant's brain completely and creates a stroma where the fungus is actually coming out of its head. After The fungus leads the ant to the perfect height above ground, which is around 9 to 10 inches, the stroma begings to spread its spores.

The whole "zombification" process takes from 3 to 9 days.

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Source: National Geographic

Photo courtesy David Hughes/National Geographic