This is an ant brain slug. More precisely, it is a hypno-mushroom-master. Officially called Cordyceps (Latin Cordyceps). He settles on an ant and turns it into a zombie. The fungus subjugates the insect's mind to its will
Cordyceps is known as a mushroom with high adaptogenic (resistance-enhancing) properties. Its wide distribution in the world confirms this fact. It lives both in normal climatic conditions and in high mountain areas at an altitude of up to 6000 meters. Reproduction takes place by parasitizing on butterflies, flies and ants. Spores that get on the hairy surface of the insect germinate and penetrate the insect's body. The insect or butterfly larva dies, and full-fledged hyphae of the cordyceps mycelium develop in the body.
In the case of the ant, it makes the chill die in a specific place, not just anywhere. After being zombified, the ant is seized with an obsession to find a leaf 25 centimeters from the ground on the northern side of the tree, so that the humidity would be 92–94%, not colder than +20 and not hotter than +30 Celsius. An ant weighed down with equipment finds a precisely specified leaf, grabs the vein with its jaws and dies.
After waiting for the death of its taxi driver, the mushroom begins to act. Its mycelium slowly fills the interior of the insect. In different parts of what has recently been running, the fungus grows different organs for itself. The mushroom strengthens fragile parts of the exoskeleton, removes soft parts. A week later, a process appears from the back of the ant's head with a red ball at the end. We thought it was an eye or a transmitting-receiving device, but it turned out that this branch was intended for reproduction.
Disputes, hundreds of thousands or even millions of them (now precise calculations are being made) leave the red ball and spread over an area of 1 square meter. under the leaf. All ants from the Camponotus leonardi clan, which were at that moment under the leaf of death or will be there in the near future, are doomed to spend the rest of their days in search of a green leaf on the northern side of the tree at a height of 25 cm.