In Myanmar in Amber, nearly 100 million years old found a fly and ants infected by a mushroom, which changes the behavior of their victims.
Scientists have found the wonderful remains of insects, which have become victims of the parasitic “zombie-grab” back in the days of dinosaurs.
Fossils, with the age of 99 million years, remained in Amber located in Myanmar. The study has been published in the methods of the Journal of the Royal Society B, the IFLSCIENCE reports.
We talk about a rare infection of flies and ants with a mushroom of the species ophiocordyceps unilateralis, known as “Cordyceps one -sided.” He inspired the game’s creators and the series The Last of Us, where mushrooms mutates and begins to infect people.
Unlike a fictional universe, in reality, cordyceps only affect insects -it captures their nervous system, changes behavior and literally controls the body to spread its misunderstandings. In ordinary fossils, such changes are not preserved, so amber, which perfectly retains the soft cloth, is a unique find.
“Since the infection is deadly, the Ophiocordyceps and the relatives fossils probably play an important role in controlling insect populations during the Cretaceous era -just as their modern relatives do,” said Co -Author of study, Edmund Yarzhembovsky.
Scientists also described two new types of fossils of mushroom parasites:
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Paleophiocordyceps gerontoformicae – located in the body of ants
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Paleophiocordyceps Ironomyiae – a struck fly
These are the most ancient traces of such an infection known in science – and another proof that nature created the scenarios of the dread long before man.
Earlier it was reported that American scientists from the University of East Tennessesses discovered a newly finished Salamandra look.
In the United States found a new species of dinosaurus
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Source: korrespondent
I am Ben Stock, a passionate and experienced digital journalist working in the news industry. At the Buna Times, I write articles covering technology developments and related topics. I strive to provide reliable information that my readers can trust. My research skills are top-notch, as well as my ability to craft engaging stories on timely topics with clarity and accuracy.