The Future of Zombie-Ants: Modeling, and More

Abstract

Pathogens of social insects cause some of the most grotesque and deadly diseases in the animal kingdom. No ant parasite produces effects more dramatic than subspecies of the fungus Ophiocordyceps unilateralis, which parasitizes ants of the Camponotini tribe. A small community of scientists is currently researching how the fungi are able to induce "zombie"-like behavior in their hosts shortly before host death, as well as ant resistance to the disease's effects. This thesis is a review of what is known of this host-parasite relationship and includes a computer model of disease dynamics within and between colonies.