Parasite Turns Ant into Bird Bait
From an original article
posted at Physorg.com
“When the ant Cephalotes atratus is infected with a parasitic nematode, its normally black abdomen turns red, resembling the many red berries in the tropical forest canopy. According to researchers, this is a strategy concocted by nematodes to entice birds to eat the normally unpalatable ant and spread the parasite in their droppings. (Steve Yanoviak/University of Arkansas)
Read the full article at Physorg.com
19 January, 2008 at 2:31 am
These parasites are really among the weirdest creatures!? Reminds me of the parasite that remote-controls a cockroach like a zombie. I don’t remember the exact name now though …
25 January, 2008 at 3:50 pm
Parasites are freaky! Insect morphology and nervous systems seem to be simple enough that other organisms can hijack them.
26 January, 2008 at 1:46 pm
If you look at it upside down it looks like a beetle carrying a berry.
1 February, 2008 at 3:50 am
test
Parasites occasionally change
the behavior or looks of their
host, but a nasty tropical
nematode alters both, making
its ant host’s parasite-
filled abdomen resemble a
ripe red berry. According to
UC Berkeley and Univ. of
Arkansas biologists, thi…
1 February, 2008 at 3:52 am
[...] Sources [1] [2] [3] [...]
1 February, 2008 at 4:02 pm
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/science/nature/7213571.stm
Elephant shrew - new species of mammal discovered!
16 February, 2008 at 9:29 pm
very interesting stuff here and love how the parasite adapts to survive! Found you through stumbleupon and I plan to return again soon!
26 February, 2008 at 2:50 pm
Wow, how interesting. I once attended a lecture about a species of flatworm found in sharks… The levels of specification are unbelievable, as in this case.