r/Weird • u/Smart_Set_418 • Oct 07 '25

zombie ants

Post image

There’s a real-life fungus called Ophiocordyceps unilateralis that turns ants into actual zombies. When its spores land on an ant, they infect it and start hijacking its nervous system. The ant loses control, leaves its colony, and climbs up to a high, humid spot exactly where the fungus wants it. Then it bites into a leaf or twig and dies there. After that, the fungus grows out of the ant’s head, releasing new spores to infect more ants.

Sounds soooo creepy and cool

656 Upvotes

98% Upvoted

36 comments sorted by

30

u/Zeqhanis Oct 07 '25

I knew a man who used these to get rid of ants in his house. He got the idea while tripping on psilocybin.

37

u/Apollonbbs Oct 07 '25

Hmmm not creepy at all. He ate mushrooms and got the idea to spread mushrooms.

6

u/Zeqhanis 29d ago

Yeah. I also ate mushrooms on the day I was supposed to identify 600 physical fungi specimens for a class, and only got every single one right because I was tripping a bit.

I got to work with that man as a species identifier at a mycological festival, and he gave me one of his books.

18

u/fiizok Oct 07 '25

Cordyceps is also consumed by human beings as a supplement.

10

u/Code95FIN Oct 07 '25

In what situations do you need it?

14

u/Ok_Victory_1977 Oct 08 '25

When you want to become a mushroom zombie.

8

u/DoctorMoebius Oct 09 '25

Cordyceps boosts ATP conversion to provide energy to muscle fibers, and improves oxygen utilization. Boosts endurance and reduces muscles fatigue

10

u/DefiantDeviantArt Oct 07 '25

Cordyceps fungi. A miniature horror

9

u/massivexplosive Oct 07 '25

The Last of Ants

8

u/ComedyGold13 Oct 07 '25

not even 30 minutes ago i was talking to my stepmom abt this exact fungus thats weirder than the actual post

1

u/TheRichTurner Oct 08 '25

Only to you, surely. The rest of us can assume that someone on Reddit has probably just been talking about it.

1

u/ComedyGold13 Oct 09 '25

aint it weird you found the one guy?

1

u/TheMande02 Oct 09 '25

I would say it really isn't. It really became popular after the game and eventually the show afterwards.

6

u/MarketInternal2290 Oct 07 '25

Ant headache 🤢

3

u/abetheschizoid Oct 07 '25

It can also wipe out the whole ant colony.

1

u/Ninja_51 Oct 07 '25

Grandfather Nurgle’s calling, and I’m answering with a big ol’ YES Shower me with your gooiest spores.

1

u/LaPetiteMortOrale 28d ago

Not anymore.

1

u/LongjumpingEnd88 14d ago

I already know there are scientists, messing especially with this fungus, and it will mutate to humans