Articles
Parasitic Flies + Fire Ants = Zombies!
The tiny phorid fly, native to a region of South America where the fire ant that inhabits the state of Texas came from, attacks fire ants that keep the population and movements under control. The fly basically “dive bombs” the ants to lay eggs. The maggot that is hatched begins to eat the fire ant’s brain and the ant starts to exhibit behavior that researchers have called “zombie-like”.
“At some point, the ant gets up and starts wandering,” said Rob Plowes, a research associate at UT.
With the ant’s brain gone, the maggot wanders to the ant’s head. The ant then just begins to wander. The researchers did not want to use the word “control” to describe it, but in essence, that’s one way to explain it. The wandering stage usually lasts about two weeks. One month after the egg is laid, the ants head falls off and the fly emerges, ready to attack any ants that have gone away from the ant mound. Researchers say that the fire ants are very aware of the flies and it only takes a few of them flying around for the ants to adjust their behavior.
Fire ants have caused the state of Texas well over $1 billion dollars a year by damaging circuit breakers, other electrical equipment, and even small calves. Texas hopes to be able to control the fire ant populations and limit the damage they can cause.
The FDA-approved flies are said to be of no danger to any native ants or species.
The question here is whether the ants would be the only things affected. One of the possible causes of a human “zombie” outbreak is through a parasite or insect. Anyone who has played any Resident Evil game can attest to the power and damage done by mind controlling parasites. The scary part about science is that things will start small…and then explode! While the study did not make any references to the fire ants committing acts of cannibalism on each other, it doesn’t sound too far off. How long before the ants can no longer satisfy the phorid fly’s need to breed? What happens when the fly evolves and needs a larger host? First, it could attack small animals, then larger animals – affecting our nation’s livestock. Then on to humans, and we have a full born outbreak!
Maybe it’s all nonsense and the phorid fly will save the state of Texas billions of dollars a year but in the meantime, those of us in the know will be prepared.
You can read the full article here.
Tags: Discussion
2 comments for “Parasitic Flies + Fire Ants = Zombies!”
Post a comment
You must be logged in to post a comment.
don’t those damn fire ants know that you ‘don’t mess with texas’.
It’s like the Alien(s) movies. The flies leave a parasite in the ants and then when the ants are all sitting around the ant dinner table….*splat* a parasite bursts from their little ant stomachs and then don a top hat and cane and sing, “Hello my baby, hello my honey….”