Zombie horror fungus which kills insects and then grows out of their HEADS spotted in local forests – The First News

Captured in Baligrd Forest District in the Bieszczady Mountains (south-eastern Poland), the hideous images show the moment the fungus bursts out of a wasps head. M. Scelina/ Lasy Pastwowe/Twitter

This is the horrifying moment a zombie horror fungus was photographed bursting out of a wasps head.

Captured in the Baligrd Forest District in the Bieszczady Mountains (south-eastern Poland), the wasp was attacked by the rare fungus known as Ophiocordyceps ditmarii which then buried itself inside the insects body.

The wasp was attacked by the rare fungus known as Ophiocordyceps ditmarii which then buried itself inside the insects body before erupting out of its head.M. Scelina/ Lasy Pastwowe/Twitter

Posting on Twitter, the State Forests said: Do you know a fungus that turns ants into zombies?

In Poland you can meet its no less interesting cousin. Ophiocordyceps ditmarii parasites on the hymenopteras [sawflies, wasps, bees, and ants - TFN] - it infects them, develops in the victim's body and after his death grows (e.g. from his head) to release spores.

The Polish horror fungi is a cousin of the more widely recognised Ophiocordyceps unilateralis species, which can be found in tropical forests.CC BY SA-2.0

The Polish horror fungi is a cousin of the more widely recognised Ophiocordyceps unilateralis species, which can be found in tropical forests.

To grow, it needs specific temperature and humidity. The fungus acts like a parasite by infecting ants.

Once it starts developing in the insects body, it alters its pheromones and the hosts behaviour.

Once the insect is attacked, the fungus begins to grow inside its body. When the insect dies it then grows out if its head.CC BY SA-3.0

The unfortunate ant will be forced to leave the anthill and travel further up the trees.

There, it will die due to the fungus piercing its body while growing.

The zombie fungus then develops fruiting bodies from the ant's head and releases its spores to reproduce.

Posting on Twitter, the State Forests said: Do you know a fungus that turns ants into zombies? It infects them, develops in the victim's body and after his death grows (e.g. from his head) to release spores.Lasy Pastwowe/Twitter

Responding to a question on Twitter about how common it is to see the fungi in Poland, the State Forests said: A lot of luck and a good eye.

Its a rare fungus, small, not found on any particular soil, the way mycorrhizal [symbiotic TFN], saprotrophic or parasitic fungi associated with plants are it is hard to predict where the wasp will land.

Originally posted here:
Zombie horror fungus which kills insects and then grows out of their HEADS spotted in local forests - The First News

Reviewed and Recommended by Erik Baquero