Fungi and slime molds race to decompose
dead matter on the forest floor.
Many spread by releasing spores
up to thirty thousand a second.
(scary music)
If just one of these spores
lands in the right place,
and takes root,
it can colonize a whole new area.
(scary music)
But not all fungi feed on the dead.
(scary music)
Days ago, a spore landed on this ant,
now she’s acting strange.
A network of roots has infiltrated her muscles.
Her body has been
taken over by cordyceps,
a parasitic fungus.
It floods her brain with chemicals,
drugging her, compelling her
to head where conditions are perfect.
(scary music)
Just the right amount of light.
Just the right amount of humidity
for the parasite growing inside.
It forces her to clamp down in a death bite.
And cordyceps reveals it’s gruesome nature.
(scary music)
After three weeks of growth,
cordyceps can release its own spores.
Infecting more ants.
Releasing more spores.
Infecting more ants.
Releasing more spores.
Infecting more ants.
Infecting more ants.
More ants.
More ants.
More ants.
(scary music)
Cordyceps can wipe out entire ant colonies.
But more than just ants are at risk.
(scary music)
There are over six hundred
species of cordyceps spread across the world.
Most are found in jungles
where they prey on a whole host of victims.
(scary music)
