Turning an Ant Into a Berry

A worm that invades its host's belly to make it look more edible proves an unusual parasite

By Matt Ransford Posted 04.24.2008 at 11:34 am 8 Comments

Cephalotes Atratus Ant: As the worms lay their eggs inside the ant, it's gaster is stretched until it resembles a berry that's attractive to birds. Stephen P. Yanoviak

Parasites are well known to have evolved an exceptional array of strategies for perpetuating themselves. A microscopic tropical nematode worm which lives in the gasters of ants in Panama is one of the more impressive. Researchers at the University of Arkansas have recently illuminated its method, which manages to make the ant appear to be a fruit so that it will be eaten by birds.

The worms begin their life cycle as eggs in the feces of birds. The ants forage on that feces for its mineral content, bringing samples back to their colonies to feed their young. The ant larvae have no defenses against the worm and so the eggs hatch inside them and the worms live out their lives in the end segment—called the gaster—of the ant's body.

This is where the worm's evolutionary sleight of hand comes into play. As the worms lay increasing numbers of eggs, the outer layer of the ant's gaster—which is regularly black—is stretched thin so that it becomes translucent. In the sun, it appears to be a red berry. Birds are then attracted to eat the ants and by consequence consume the worm eggs inside as the entire cycle begins again.

Via NY Times

Previous Article: Metals That Generate Electric Fields May Keep Sharks Away

Next Article: Europe Returns to Coal

Want to learn more about the environment, solar energy, sustainability, and more? Subscribe to Popular Science and enter to win $5,000!

8 Comments

link to this comment

l-g-p

04/29/08 at 6:04 pm

You're telling me that a parasite can design and implement a complex plan like that? Sounds more like the work of a Creator to me...

link to this comment

EdenI

05/03/08 at 10:09 pm

This is amazing, but isn't it possible for other things to eat the ants... HUMANS!!!

link to this comment

thunderstorm

05/15/08 at 3:16 pm

Totally agree with l-g-p.

link to this comment

SciFye10

05/22/08 at 4:49 pm

then why do humans do what they do????? exactly just because it doesn't make sense, doesn't mean it cant happen..... it doesn't need a reason to do the things it does just like you dont need a reason for doing things you do ... its life theres no explination for anything even when there is one

link to this comment

mac11

07/28/08 at 10:06 pm

منتديات -
صور -
برامج كمبيوتر -
العاب كمبيوتر -
مسجات
رسائل

than k uu

link to this comment

mac11

07/28/08 at 10:10 pm

thank

العاب -
محولات -
رموز ماسنجر
برامج نوكيا
برامج جوال
برامج ماسنجر
روايات

link to this comment

mac11