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Fruiting bodies of a fungus coming out of the head and body of the ant.
Tropical rainforest
Found at La Selva Biological Station in Heredia, Costa Rica. This ant has been infected with a fungus, possibly Cordyceps sp. The fungus takes over the ant, infecting its brain and causing it to climb higher on plants. The fungus will cause the ant to grab on to its final resting place with its jaws, and will then die. The fungus grows inside the ant until it bursts out of the ant's body with its fruiting bodies, which will then burst and unleash its spores.
Spotted on Feb 5, 2011
Submitted on Jun 12, 2011
1 Comment
Very Interesting..
Thanks for sharing
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