I've never been all for ghosts, mummies or zombies, not even Halloween. But as October 31 approaches, I remember a biographical story involving all three. It's a true-life horror story of a meat-eating, mental stress. Fungus From Janus, who inspired the zombie-apocalypse. Video game And TV series The last of us.
Around the world, there are lots of of species. Most of them are liable to insects. They are famous. Hijacking minds Once the fungus has taken over some ants, it directs the ant to climb higher on the plant after which bite right into a death grip on the stem or branch. The reproductive structures of this parasitic fungus will soon burst from the ant's head, dispersing its spores to contaminate one other unsuspecting host.
But the species I'm most acquainted with () doesn't attack ants – it parasitizes insects resembling giant “ghost” caterpillars. This species doesn't force its prey to climb, but takes control after they are buried within the soil.
You'll see a strange-looking dead caterpillar crawling across the bottom as if rising from the grave, with a big fungus growing from its head. Some are in regards to the size of an adult finger, but cream and dark brown in color. It really is something that may trigger nightmares.
Devouring a Ghost Host
Unsuspecting insects develop into infected after they by accident ingest them, or when spores attach to their bodies.
The Australian Caterpillar ghost worm () burrows straight down into the soil to graze the roots of gum trees and another species related to Eucalyptus. So it probably picks up the fungus because it burrows into the bottom. The fungus then enters the insect's exoskeleton, or digestive system, along a skinny, needle-like tube.
Once contained in the caterpillar, the fungus begins to grow rapidly. It produces very wonderful threads (hyphae) that reach through the insect's body, changing its structure. The fungus expands to fill the available space, taking on ultimate control. Exactly how fungus Controls the mind of insects. Not fully understood, but we do know that the fungus produces numerous chemicals that affect the brain in ways in which meet the fungus' ecological and reproductive needs.
The caterpillar is destroyed as soon because the fungus starts to grow inside it. After taking over one other life form, the zombie caterpillar dies. All this happens out of sight, below the surface of the soil.
But not done with Caterpillar yet. It uses all of the resources the insect can offer, then pushes the horn-like reproductive structure out of the caterpillar's head. These spore-producing structures could be greater than 10 cm long. They are clearly visible above ground, but could be hard to search out because they give the impression of being like twigs. Wind carries the spores to contaminate more unwary caterpillars.
These fungus-filled caterpillars at the moment are completely mummified. Nothing stays of the caterpillar except a broken exoskeleton.
When the reproductive structures dry out and wither, they gently draw back from the mum to which they're still attached. If the soil is dry, the caterpillar's now-empty exoskeleton emerges from its opening. As this happens, the fungal reproductive structures are sometimes lost and all you see left is an empty husk.
Half animal, half vegetable.
Members of the genus boast an unusual common name. Vegetable caterpillars. The odd name comes from a belief, held until the 1800s, that caterpillars by some means evolved from insects to fungi, or from animals to plants.
It was written a few very controversial and widespread example Changea theory that was not unusual in pre-Darwinian times. It wasn't until the early 1900s that the true, full, and terrifying nature of the connection between the insect hunter and his victims was revealed.
In search of Cordyceps
It is essentially the most commonly seen species of vegetable caterpillar in south-eastern Australia, occurring in several states.
Another less outstanding species, the Fauna vegetable caterpillar, occurs along the east coast of Australia, often under wattles, but is tougher to see. Naturalistic hunting It is commonly known to this vegetable caterpillar that they've inadvertently stepped on it before they see it.
Yet one other species, may also usually be seen emerging from giant ghost moth caterpillars in Victoria. When the husks of those dead, mummified caterpillars emerge from their holes in the bottom, they're especially striking.
The classification of those vegetable caterpillar fungi remains to be debated by experts. It is probably going that not all are closely related. Some at the moment are placed in a brand new generation, but whatever the name, they're all value making. Zombie And the mummies of their victims.
You can do citizen science projects like that The Great Australian Fungi Hunt or Naturalists Australia
EPA / Alex Hoford
Traditional medicine and vegetable caterpillar
As Halloween approaches, you could be wondering if humans must worry about being zombified and mummified by fungus. Can naturalists hunting vegetable caterpillars develop into predators? The answer is a convincing no. In fact, the other is true – these insidious creatures have an extended history in traditional medicine.
a Chinese vegetable very much like the caterpillar, has been utilized in traditional medicine for hundreds of years. Modern research shows. There may be benefits From its use (or extracts from it) within the treatment of autoimmune reactions. While fungi have been cultivated for about 40 years, naturally growing, wild fungi could be very expensive because they're still relatively rare and hard to search out. A kilogram can retail for A$30,000, resulting in a fungal gold rush. Across the Himalayas.
Members of the genus, or more properly genus, have been around for longer. 45 million years. Despite my portrayal of them The last of usHumans don't have anything to fret about. Fungi are quite particular about their prey. But for those who're a certain species of ant or ghost bug, Halloween can tackle a complete recent meaning.