Re:'Zombie ant' brains left intact by fungal parasite
by ajuc on Thursday November 09, 2017 @06:17AM
(#15661488)
> Although the host brain isn't invaded by fungal cells, previous work has shown that the brain may be chemically altered by the parasite, Hughes noted.
I think it's much more probably that ants have some high-level chemical signals that the fungus uses. One to climb, and another to bite maybe?
Re:'Zombie ant' brains left intact by fungal parasite
by arcticfox on Thursday November 09, 2017 @08:00AM
(#15661993)
That seems more probable and way more intuitive, but I don't really understand how the mechanics of that mesh with what the researchers are saying happens to the ant muscles.
I think it's much more probably that ants have some high-level chemical signals that the fungus uses. One to climb, and another to bite maybe?
Ants already use pheromones to communicate.