What fungus controls ants?

Ophiocordyceps unilateralis fungus
The Ophiocordyceps unilateralis fungus has just one goal: self-propagation and dispersal. Researchers think the fungus, found in tropical forests, infects a foraging ant through spores that attach and penetrate the exoskeleton and slowly takes over its behavior.

What is ant fungus?

The fungus, called Ophiocordyceps, feeds on the ant from within and multiplies into new cells. But you wouldn’t know it, because the ant goes on with its life, foraging for food to bring back to the nest. All the while, the fungus keeps growing until it makes up nearly half of the ant’s body mass.

Do ants spread fungus?

While ants are not nearly as significant as mosquitoes and other medically important insects, they do carry and transmit bacterial and fungal organisms that are serious disease pathogens.

How do ants make fungus?

Ant–fungus mutualism is a symbiosis seen between certain ant and fungal species, in which ants actively cultivate fungus much like humans farm crops as a food source. In some species, the ants and fungi are dependent on each other for survival. The leafcutter ant is a well-known example of this symbiosis.

Is Cordyceps harmful to humans?

Side Effects and Safety No studies have yet examined the safety of Cordyceps in humans. However, a long history of use in Traditional Chinese Medicine suggests they are nontoxic. In fact, the Chinese government approved Cordyceps CS-4 for use in hospitals and recognizes it as a safe, natural drug ( 32 ).

Can fungus turn you into a zombie?

After all, the Cordyceps’ primary purpose is to spread as much as it can. Cordyceps can’t infect humans, as our bodies are better than insects at attacking pathogens. So you can rest easy, knowing you won’t turn into a zombie from these things.

Do all ants grow fungus?

Fungus-growing ants (tribe Attini) comprise all the known fungus-growing ant species participating in ant–fungus mutualism….Fungus-growing ants.

What do ants eat fungus?

The leaf cutter ant carries leaves home to feed their fungus crop. Source. Ants learned to farm 50 million years ago, way before humans did. But the ants don’t eat the leaves themselves—they feed it to Lepiotaceae fungus they cultivate in their nests.