Unveiling the Brain-Controlling Ant Parasite's 'Zombie Switch'
Originally Published 2 years ago — by Gizmodo
Scientists have discovered that lancet liver fluke parasites, which infect ants and manipulate their behavior, have a "zombie switch" that controls the ants' actions. The parasites compel the ants to climb up blades of grass to be eaten by larger animals, but when the weather gets too hot, the ants are coerced to climb back down. Temperature was found to be the most influential factor in the ants' behavior, with the worms puppeteering them mostly at night and in the morning. The study highlights the complexity of parasite behavior and the need for further research to understand the mechanisms behind the brain hijacking of ants.