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Off-Topic Discussion => General Discussion => Topic started by: Agent_Koopa on January 06, 2008, 12:56:10 am

Title: Whoa. Zombie insect fungus?
Post by: Agent_Koopa on January 06, 2008, 12:56:10 am
I've recently been watching the documentary Planet Earth with my family. Apparently, there is a genus of parasitic fungi known as Cordyceps. Its reproductive cycle is as follows: spores attach themselves to the body of an insect. It germinates, and spreads throughout the insect's body. Finally, it begins to alter the infected insect's brain chemistry, driving it to mindlessly seek higher ground, where the fungus finally kills it. The mushroom sprouts from the corpse, spreading its spores over a large area, to continue the cycle. There is apparently a species of Cordyceps for each insect. Let this YouTube clip explain in more detail. (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Guk-x0BTDTM)

Title: Re: Whoa. Zombie insect fungus?
Post by: Mefustae on January 06, 2008, 01:06:14 am
Since my connection is too slow to view the YouTube video, i'll just ask: Is this the fungus that ends up growing two prongs out of the insect's head?
Title: Re: Whoa. Zombie insect fungus?
Post by: CKid on January 06, 2008, 01:24:38 am
Ok, that creeped me out a bit.
Title: Re: Whoa. Zombie insect fungus?
Post by: Agent_Koopa on January 06, 2008, 01:27:40 am
Since my connection is too slow to view the YouTube video, i'll just ask: Is this the fungus that ends up growing two prongs out of the insect's head?

How many fungi do you know that do that?
Title: Re: Whoa. Zombie insect fungus?
Post by: Wanderer on January 06, 2008, 02:08:26 am
There are even more 'Aliens' like stuff in the wild though these fungi are certain in top of the list... Like certain parasitic wasps that plant their eggs inside caterpillars (with kinda predictable results...) or use their poison to paralyze spiders and plant their larva onto its back where after the paralysis has cleared it slowly over matter of days messes the mind of the spider and then sucks it dry.. Ain't nature resourceful or what?
Title: Re: Whoa. Zombie insect fungus?
Post by: Prophet on January 06, 2008, 03:02:51 am
Thare are lots of parasites and fungi that live in insects. Often with gruesome results. :cool:

And youtube has plenty of videos about insect slaughter. Camel spider vs. Scorpion is a popular subject. And seeing a praying mantis eat snakes and rodents is sweet because they really don't kill their prey. They just eat it. Not that that doesn't eventually kill it, but you get the idea...
Title: Re: Whoa. Zombie insect fungus?
Post by: Rictor on January 06, 2008, 08:15:41 am
That's nothing. Here's (http://exile.ru/articles/detail.php?ARTICLE_ID=9694&IBLOCK_ID=35&phrase_id=11292) a mind-controlling parasite that has already infected, allegedly, half the human population, turning men into depressed morons.
Title: Re: Whoa. Zombie insect fungus?
Post by: MP-Ryan on January 06, 2008, 11:38:56 am
Thare are lots of parasites and fungi that live in insects. Often with gruesome results. :cool:

Same holds true for humans for that matter :P
Title: Re: Whoa. Zombie insect fungus?
Post by: achtung on January 06, 2008, 01:04:39 pm
That's nothing. Here's (http://exile.ru/articles/detail.php?ARTICLE_ID=9694&IBLOCK_ID=35&phrase_id=11292) a mind-controlling parasite that has already infected, allegedly, half the human population, turning men into depressed morons.

Gotta love The Exile.
Title: Re: Whoa. Zombie insect fungus?
Post by: TrashMan on January 06, 2008, 01:14:34 pm
That's nothing. Here's (http://exile.ru/articles/detail.php?ARTICLE_ID=9694&IBLOCK_ID=35&phrase_id=11292) a mind-controlling parasite that has already infected, allegedly, half the human population, turning men into depressed morons.

What a load of bull****....
Title: Re: Whoa. Zombie insect fungus?
Post by: Prophet on January 06, 2008, 01:46:21 pm
No... It's cat****...  ;)
Title: Re: Whoa. Zombie insect fungus?
Post by: karajorma on January 06, 2008, 03:03:17 pm
Finally, absolute proof that Trashman doesn't know ****. :p
Title: Re: Whoa. Zombie insect fungus?
Post by: Mefustae on January 06, 2008, 05:37:34 pm
That's nothing. Here's (http://exile.ru/articles/detail.php?ARTICLE_ID=9694&IBLOCK_ID=35&phrase_id=11292) a mind-controlling parasite that has already infected, allegedly, half the human population, turning men into depressed morons.
Cat****, eh? Well, that was surprising. I was totally expecting it to be women.
Title: Re: Whoa. Zombie insect fungus?
Post by: TrashMan on January 06, 2008, 06:03:33 pm
Finally, absolute proof that Trashman doesn't know ****. :p

You know ***** ***** ***** ***** ***** ***** ***** ***** ***** *****!

I was refering to the way the article was written. I smell a feminist there..and I don't believe the article either....not yet anyway.
Title: Re: Whoa. Zombie insect fungus?
Post by: Snail on January 06, 2008, 06:04:21 pm
What kara means is that you don't know which **** is which. :P
Title: Re: Whoa. Zombie insect fungus?
Post by: TrashMan on January 06, 2008, 06:06:24 pm
I don't really have a habit of collecting and examining ****, so my knowledge of it's form and shape are alas limited.
Title: Re: Whoa. Zombie insect fungus?
Post by: Snail on January 06, 2008, 06:07:15 pm
Not a professor in ****ology?
Title: Re: Whoa. Zombie insect fungus?
Post by: TrashMan on January 06, 2008, 06:24:04 pm
Not a professor in ****ology?

Nope, but they don't seem to be in short supply on the net anyway.
Title: Re: Whoa. Zombie insect fungus?
Post by: Hellstryker on January 06, 2008, 06:47:46 pm
That's nothing. Here's (http://exile.ru/articles/detail.php?ARTICLE_ID=9694&IBLOCK_ID=35&phrase_id=11292) a mind-controlling parasite that has already infected, allegedly, half the human population, turning men into depressed morons.

What a load of bull****....
Agreed
Title: Re: Whoa. Zombie insect fungus?
Post by: Rictor on January 06, 2008, 07:05:47 pm
I was refering to the way the article was written. I smell a feminist there..and I don't believe the article either....not yet anyway.
I don't think you'll find too many feminists in one of the most misogynistic papers around.
Title: Re: Whoa. Zombie insect fungus?
Post by: Flaser on January 07, 2008, 01:58:32 am
I was refering to the way the article was written. I smell a feminist there..and I don't believe the article either....not yet anyway.
I don't think you'll find too many feminists in one of the most misogynistic papers around.

Tru, dat. 'been readin 'em for years now.
Beside them, and ruthlessreviews.com your hard pressed to find a more cynical and nihilistic bunch around the globe. Want some evidence? Here: The God That Hates Woman (http://exile.ru/articles/detail.php?ARTICLE_ID=6995&IBLOCK_ID=35&phrase_id=11365)
Title: Re: Whoa. Zombie insect fungus?
Post by: Kosh on January 07, 2008, 02:25:00 am
That's nothing. Here's (http://exile.ru/articles/detail.php?ARTICLE_ID=9694&IBLOCK_ID=35&phrase_id=11292) a mind-controlling parasite that has already infected, allegedly, half the human population, turning men into depressed morons.

Certainly explains our current president.......
Title: Re: Whoa. Zombie insect fungus?
Post by: Scuddie on January 07, 2008, 04:13:42 am
That's nothing. Here's (http://exile.ru/articles/detail.php?ARTICLE_ID=9694&IBLOCK_ID=35&phrase_id=11292) a mind-controlling parasite that has already infected, allegedly, half the human population, turning men into depressed morons.
The Toxoplasma Gondii portrayed by that article isn't real.  But this (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eBGIQ7ZuuiU) IS real.  And it is responsible for a global decline of overall intelligence.  It is also, oddly enough, highly addictive.  Its abuse is so high, many societies have even outlawed reference to it.
Title: Re: Whoa. Zombie insect fungus?
Post by: Prophet on January 07, 2008, 05:12:06 am
But this (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eBGIQ7ZuuiU) IS real.
My hips! I... I can't stop them! I'm dancing! What is happening to me??? Noooo!!!!

*Prophet dances beyond the hills towards the sunset... Never to be seen again. But some still claim, that every evening when the sun is at the horizon, you can see hazy shape dancing in the glow... Many who have seen this, never fully recover.*
Title: Re: Whoa. Zombie insect fungus?
Post by: NGTM-1R on January 07, 2008, 05:44:39 am
That's nothing. Here's (http://exile.ru/articles/detail.php?ARTICLE_ID=9694&IBLOCK_ID=35&phrase_id=11292) a mind-controlling parasite that has already infected, allegedly, half the human population, turning men into depressed morons.
Cat****, eh? Well, that was surprising. I was totally expecting it to be women.

Cats, women, women cats...oh wait, the last one wouldn't be that radically different from either, would it?
Title: Re: Whoa. Zombie insect fungus?
Post by: TrashMan on January 07, 2008, 09:45:13 am
Don't know about you, but I have nothing against cat-woman: ;7 ;7 ;7 ;7
(http://www.fugly.com/media/IMAGES/Babes/japanese-cat-woman.jpg)
Title: Re: Whoa. Zombie insect fungus?
Post by: karajorma on January 07, 2008, 10:10:27 am
From earlier posts I'm guessing ngtm1r has something against cat-women.

Every chance he gets.  ;7
Title: Re: Whoa. Zombie insect fungus?
Post by: TrashMan on January 07, 2008, 10:35:53 am
Forget him..he's gay! I'd have nothing against having a nice pus-...I mean... a kitty to stroke :D
Title: Re: Whoa. Zombie insect fungus?
Post by: Flaser on January 07, 2008, 03:09:08 pm
That's nothing. Here's (http://exile.ru/articles/detail.php?ARTICLE_ID=9694&IBLOCK_ID=35&phrase_id=11292) a mind-controlling parasite that has already infected, allegedly, half the human population, turning men into depressed morons.
The Toxoplasma Gondii portrayed by that article isn't real.  But this (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eBGIQ7ZuuiU) IS real.  And it is responsible for a global decline of overall intelligence.  It is also, oddly enough, highly addictive.  Its abuse is so high, many societies have even outlawed reference to it.

It is real. It's just not as serious as it's hyped up to be.... or maybe it is....in the long term effects. Anyway linky:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Toxoplasma
Title: Re: Whoa. Zombie insect fungus?
Post by: NGTM-1R on January 07, 2008, 06:15:38 pm
Don't know about you, but I have nothing against cat-woman: ;7 ;7 ;7 ;7

Kara's more right then he realizes. :p

Just as well I'm a cat person.
Title: Re: Whoa. Zombie insect fungus?
Post by: karajorma on January 07, 2008, 06:26:51 pm
Actually I was referring to your earlier posts on SG so I'm probably not completely out of the loop on this one. :D
Title: Re: Whoa. Zombie insect fungus?
Post by: NGTM-1R on January 07, 2008, 07:41:11 pm
Actually I was referring to your earlier posts on SG so I'm probably not completely out of the loop on this one. :D

Sssssh! We're trying to confuse them!
Title: Re: Whoa. Zombie insect fungus?
Post by: achtung on January 08, 2008, 07:10:14 am
Don't know about you, but I have nothing against cat-woman: ;7 ;7 ;7 ;7
*snip

It's a trap!
Title: Re: Whoa. Zombie insect fungus?
Post by: Fineus on January 08, 2008, 07:45:37 am
Go back to 4chan :p