Ancient remains of zombies

2010/08/19 Elhuyar Zientzia

• Biologia

The zombies are not from yesterday morning. According to a study published by the journal Biology Letters, zombie ants have found marks on a fossil sheet of 48 million years.

Today are known the zombie ants of Thailand. When the fungus Ophiocordyceps unilateralis infects the ant Camponotus leonardi, they take over the movements of the ant. The ant is removed from the colony, chooses a leaf with adequate conditions for the growth of the fungus, bites from the bottom of the leaf to a vein and dies in it. Then, the fungus grows at full speed in the body of the ant and extends its spores in search of new victims.

The researchers have seen in the fossil marks very similar to those left when they died in the veins of the leaf and believe that Camponotus is a former relative of the zombies. This complex relationship of parasitism between fungi and ants can be, therefore, something very old.

Images: left, Torsten Wappler; right, David Hughes.