[Agent_Koopa]

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.

[Mefustae]

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?

[CKid]

Ok, that creeped me out a bit.

[Agent_Koopa]

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?

[Wanderer]

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?

[Prophet]

Thare are lots of parasites and fungi that live in insects. Often with gruesome results.

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...

[Rictor]

That's nothing. Here's a mind-controlling parasite that has already infected, allegedly, half the human population, turning men into depressed morons.

[MP-Ryan]

Thare are lots of parasites and fungi that live in insects. Often with gruesome results.

Same holds true for humans for that matter

[achtung]

That's nothing. Here's a mind-controlling parasite that has already infected, allegedly, half the human population, turning men into depressed morons.

Gotta love The Exile.

[TrashMan]

That's nothing. Here's a mind-controlling parasite that has already infected, allegedly, half the human population, turning men into depressed morons.

What a load of bull****....

[Prophet]

No... It's cat****... 

[karajorma]

Finally, absolute proof that Trashman doesn't know ****.

[Mefustae]

That's nothing. Here's 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.

[TrashMan]

Finally, absolute proof that Trashman doesn't know ****.

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.

[Snail]

What kara means is that you don't know which **** is which.

[TrashMan]

I don't really have a habit of collecting and examining ****, so my knowledge of it's form and shape are alas limited.

[Snail]

Not a professor in ****ology?

[TrashMan]

Not a professor in ****ology?

Nope, but they don't seem to be in short supply on the net anyway.

[Hellstryker]

That's nothing. Here's a mind-controlling parasite that has already infected, allegedly, half the human population, turning men into depressed morons.

What a load of bull****....

Agreed

[Rictor]

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.