It’s not just humans who should be afraid of zombies.
Unlucky ants can be infected by Ophiocordyceps, a tropical fungus. Once an ant is infected, the fungus begins to take over the ant’s central nervous system. After about 3-9 days, the fungus has total control over the ant’s movement.
The fungus will then make the ant fall from trees onto the ground below. The cool forest floor is the ideal place for the fungus to thrive. When the conditions are right, at exactly solar noon, the fungus forces the ant to to bite down onto a leaf to create a stable place for the fungus to grow.
The fungus poisons the ant. A few days later, it will sprout from the ant’s head, to release spores to infect its next victim.
Source: Reader’s Digest
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