Golden Forest Ant (Polyrhachis ypsilon) killed by Ophiocordyceps fungi
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A Golden Forest Ant (Polyrhachis ypsilon) has been killed by a parasitic Ophiocordyceps fungus which has consumed its body. Before dying, the behaviour of infected ants is controlled by the fungus, and are directed to climb to a suitable location usually on the underside of a leaf. There the fungus kills its host and produces fruiting bodies which releases spores to infect more ants below. Sabah, Malaysia (Borneo).
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- © Chien C. Lee
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- Keywords
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Aculeata, Apocrita, Ascomycota, Borneo, Camponotini, East Malaysia, Formicidae, Formicinae, Hymenoptera, Hypocreales, Insecta, Malaysia, Ophiocordycipitaceae, Sabah, Sordariomycetes, Southeast Asia, Vespoidea, animal, ant, arthropod, camponotine ant, entomopathogenic, entomopathogenic fungus, fauna, formicine ant, fungi, fungus, insect, invertebrate, parasit, parasite, parasitic, parasitism, tropical
