Zombie ant parasite is ‘even more cunning’ than previously thought
3 Min Read
Ants are turning into zombies and unwillingly sticking to grass.
-
This undated image provided by Bugwood.org shows ants farming aphids on the back of a jewelweed leaf in New York. (AP)
Scientists have discovered that the lancet liver fluke parasite, which infamously manipulates ants' behavior, is even more cunning than previously believed. This parasite is capable of compelling infected ants to avoid the sun's scorching rays on hot days, thus ensuring their survival long enough to spread the parasite to other potential hosts. Researchers, including those from the University of Copenhagen in Denmark, made these findings.
A recent study, published in the journal Behavioral Ecology revealed that the liver fluke parasite can induce ants to crawl back down the blades of grass when the temperature rises during the day. This remarkable behavior adaptation allows the parasite to increase its chances of transmission to grazing animals like cattle and deer.
Infected ants involuntarily ascend blades of grass and clamp their powerful jaws onto them, making them more likely to be consumed by herbivores. This strategy involves getting the ants high up in the grass during the cool morning and evening hours when cattle or deer graze and then descending to avoid the sun's harmful heat.
Read next: Study warns red fire ant colonies found in Italy could spread
Study co-author Brian Lund Fredensborg commented, "Our discovery reveals a parasite that is more sophisticated than we originally believed it to be."
In this new study, scientists tagged hundreds of infected ants in the Bidstrup Forests near Roskilde, Denmark, enabling them to monitor the ants over extended periods. They observed the ants' behavior in response to various environmental conditions, including light, humidity, time of day, and temperature.
Temperature emerged as a crucial factor influencing ant behavior. When the temperature was lower, ants tended to stay attached to the top of a blade of grass. However, as the temperature increased, ants abandoned their perches and descended.
Read next: Worm found living in Australian woman's brain in world's first case
Dr. Fredensborg humorously remarked, "We found a clear correlation between temperature and ant behavior. We joked about having found the ants' zombie switch."
Previous research revealed that when a liver fluke infects an ant, hundreds of parasites invade the ant's body, but only one reaches the brain. This solitary liver fluke parasite exerts control over the host's behavior, while the others hide within a protective capsule in the ant's abdomen.
Dr. Fredensborg concluded, "We now know that temperature determines when the parasite will take over an ant's brain. But we still need to figure out which cocktail of chemical substances the parasite uses to turn ants into zombies."
