Cordyceps: attack of the killer fungi - Planet Earth Attenborough BBC wildlife
BBC Studios3 HN recommenders · recommended in 3 months, 2017–2026
documentary · general · evergreen · 2017–2026 on HN
A three-minute clip from BBC's Planet Earth narrated by David Attenborough about Cordyceps, the fungus that infects insects and takes over their behavior. It shows an infected ant and its demise.
HN links it as the quick introduction to zombie-ant fungi whenever the topic comes up.
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5 comments from Hacker News
Fungi can be very potent. There is a form of fungi called Cordyceps that invade the brains of ants and change their behavior in a way that increases its spread. Here's a clip by Attenborough explaining it best: ▶ this video They even made a movie about this jumping to humans called "The Girl with all the Gifts"
For anyone else not familiar with cordyceps fungi, here's a three-minute clip from BCC Planet Earth: ▶ this video
There is a 3-minute video from BBC Planet Earth showing an infected ant and its demise. ▶ this video It is like watching the Alien scene, except this is real.
Related video? "Cordyceps: attack of the killer fungi - Planet Earth Attenborough BBC wildlife" ▶ this video (2008)
>I often see one ant carrying another That might not be an act of kindness toward the carried ant. It could be banishment from the colony to prevent the spread of fungus: ▶ this video