Cordyceps
are a group of parasitic fungi containing over 400 described species. Their
hosts are usually insects but they can also infect other fungi, are considered
to have medicinal properties in China and Tibet.
Fungi of the genus Ophiocordyceps (so called zombie ant fungi)
Ophoiocordyceps
need ants to complete their life cycle. When an ant comes across fungal spores
while foraging, the fungus infects the insect and quickly spreads throughout
its body.
The microorganism is some how able to recognize
the brains of different ant species, and releases its mind-controlling chemical
cocktail only when in its preferred host.
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