The Cordyceps fungus hijacks an ant's muscles to turn it into a 'zombie' before erupting from its head.

Ophiocordyceps unilateralis, often called the zombie-ant fungus, was first discovered by British naturalist Alfred Russel Wallace in 1859. Research published in the journal PNAS in 2017 revealed that the fungus does not actually infect the ant's brain. Instead, it forms a complex cellular network that weaves through the ant's entire body and surrounds its muscle fibers.This biological hijacking allows the fungus to control the host's limbs directly through chemical signals. The fungus forces the ant to leave its nest and climb exactly 25 centimeters above the ground. This specific height provides the precise temperature and humidity required for the fungus to thrive and reproduce.Once the ant reaches this 'sweet spot,' it performs a permanent 'death grip' on the underside of a leaf vein. The fungus then consumes the ant's internal organs while keeping the exoskeleton intact for protection. Eventually, a long fruiting body grows out of the back of the ant's head.This stalk releases thousands of infectious spores into the air. Because the ant died directly above a high-traffic foraging trail, the spores fall onto other members of the colony. This cycle ensures the fungus can continue to spread through the population with devastating efficiency.