Scientists have discovered a way to control ants by using a tiny fly as a parasite, turning worker ants into “zombies.” The ant-decapitating fly Pseudacteon wasmanni lays eggs inside the ant’s thorax, where they hatch and begin to manipulate the ant’s behavior.
When the egg hatches, the phorid larva migrates from the thorax into the ant’s head, sipping on hemolymph until it reaches its third instar. During this time, the infected ant appears normal but eventually succumbs to the parasite’s control, walking away from its colony and dying shortly after.
The parasite’s manipulation of the ant’s behavior is so complete that even ants’ immune systems can’t stop it, allowing the phorid larva to reach its final pupal stage inside the ant’s decapitated head. After two to six weeks, an adult phorid fly emerges from the detached ant head, ready to mate and continue the cycle.
This phenomenon, known as “zombie” fire ant workers, has been observed in laboratories and field studies, offering a unique insight into the intricate relationship between parasites and their hosts.
Source: https://www.yahoo.com/entertainment/articles/once-ant-turned-back-colony-090010568.html