Maria Browne

G00331232
Parasite of the day: O.unilateralis
Phronima sp. may have inspired the idea for the movie “The alien” but the interaction
between O. unilateralis and C. leonardi resembles a scene taken straight out of some
gruesome zombie movie. Meet Ophiocordyceps unilateralis, the “zombie fungus “and the
unwilling host, the Carpenter ant. This parasitic fungus is a true master of manipulation.
O.unilateralis is an obligate parasite. It requires a host organism in order to reproduce.
O.unilateralis also fits the criteria of a parasitoid .i.e. will eventually cause host mortality.
Carpenter ants become infected by spores of this fungus when they make necessary
foraging trips on the forest floor. The spores bind to the cuticle of the ant. A reproductive
body, in the form of a stalk sprouts out of the infected body in a pretty disturbing fashion.
(See Figure 1) .This sexual structure then releases more spores so the continuation of
infection is ensured. The parasite depletes the host of any remaining nutrients and causes
muscular atrophy.
The less than fortunate individuals who are now riddled by the parasite are quickly removed
by those ants who were lucky enough to escape such a ghastly faith. This is a preventative
measure carried out to protect the remainder of the colony from infection.

Figure 1: Image showing fruiting body of O.unilateralis penetrating out from Carpenter ant.
(Techly, 2018)
The most bizarre and somewhat creepy aspect of this parasite-host interaction is the
eccentric and slightly eerie behaviour these “zombie ants” display upon infection. Recent
studies in the Thai rainforest has shed some light on such behavioural traits. Approximately
one week after infection, the ant will begin to walk in an erratic and non-directional manner
which is unusual for this species. The enslaved ants also take fits or convulsions. The fungus
will then influence the host to abandon the colony and safety in the canopy and journey
down to the moist understory. The ants are then compelled by the parasite to take what is
known as a “death grip”. A “death grip” occurs when the infected ant who is now under
complete mind control takes a bite into the abaxial vein a leaf on the forest floor. As you can
probably guess from the name of this event, this is not good news for the ant as it dies
immediately after.
This leaf consuming behaviour may seem absurd however, there is a perfectly logical reason
behind such an occurrence. The damp understory of the rainforest is the optimum habitat
for fungal growth, therefore the fungus brainwashes the ant to enter this habitat.
O.unilateralis is then equipped with a perfect microclimate. When the ant chomps into the
vegetation, it holds the ant in place and the microclimate is maintained by the parasite. How
does the fungus achieve such drastic changes in the host’s behaviour? Well, the fungus
secretes a concoction of neurotoxins into the body of the ant. There is a lot of research
ongoing by scientists to determine exactly what those chemicals are. Peculiarly, the ants
nearly always perish where there is an accumulation of ant cadavers. It seems graveyards
are not limited to human use! Studies have shown that the abundance in these “ant
graveyards” can surmount 25 corpses per m2.
Do you believe that these ants are truly possessed by this parasitic fungus? Should these
behavioural traits be considered as an extended phenotype of the parasite or a behavioural
adaptation made by the host?
After extensive research into these amazing fungi, I believe that they entirely enslave their
victims in their own body and use them to exhibit a phenomenal array of adaptations to
ensure their own biogenesis. The anatomy of the infected Carpenter ants becomes the
extended phenotype of the fungus as all of the ant’s mind control is lost. The embodiment
that once belonged to the host is now that of the parasites. As frightful as that may seem, it
highlights how versatile and charismatic fungi can be. In my opinion, it is astonishing that an
organism without any brains or neurons can so cleverly manipulate and seize control over
individual ants who belong to a highly intelligent colony.
(Hughes et al., 2011)

References:
1) Hughes, D., Andersen, S., Hywel-Jones, N., Himaman, W., Billen, J. and Boomsma, J.
(2011). Behavioural mechanisms and morphological symptoms of zombie ants dying
from fungal infection. BMC Ecology, 11(1), p.13.
2) Techly. (2018). This nightmare fungus turns ants into zombies and makes them
commit suicide. [online] Available at:
https://www.techly.com.au/2017/11/14/nightmare-fungus-turns-ants-zombies-
controls-every-movement/ [Accessed 14 Oct. 2018].