The Terrifying Rise of a New "Zombie" Parasite
Scientists at the University of Copenhagen have discovered that the lancet liver fluke, a parasitic worm, "zombifies" ants by altering their behavior through a temperature-based on/off switch. When infected, ants are compelled to clamp their mandibles near the top of a blade of grass, making them more likely to be eaten by grazing animals. The liver flukes then work their way to the host's liver, while sacrificing the fluke attached to the ant's brain. The researchers observed that infected ants were more likely to exhibit this behavior in cooler temperatures, suggesting that the parasite waits for optimal conditions before activating "zombie mode." Further research is needed to understand the chemical substances used by the parasite to control the ants.
