The new species targets ants already infected by Ophiocordyceps, or "zombie fungus", which manipulates the infected insect's nervous system and makes it behave erratically before killing it and bursting from its carcass.
"Rather than manipulating the insect's nervous system itself, Pleurocordyceps infiltrates and feeds directly on the thriving Ophiocordyceps tissue inside the host," Seelan said.
6 Comments
DeadPixel@lemmy.zip · 16 pts · 44d
So this is a parasite of a parasite!? Crazy world we live in…
Brummbaer@pawb.social · 10 pts · 44d
This is called hyperparasitism
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hyperparasite.
Three levels of parasitism have been observed in fungi: a fungus (Rhinotrichella globulifera) on a fungus (Gen. Hypomyces) on a fungus (Fomes hemitephrus) on a tree.[9]
CapuccinoCoretto@lemmy.world · 8 pts · 44d
It's parasites all the way down.
kaklerbitmap@lemmy.world · 9 pts · 44d
They've recently discovered a species of spider that have adapted to look like they've been infected with cordyceps:
Taczanowskia waska
snoons@lemmy.ca · 7 pts · 44d
So I heard you like Ophiocordyceps...
RecursiveParadox@piefed.social · 3 pts · 44d
Just no.