{"id":6219,"date":"2011-03-07T11:18:43","date_gmt":"2011-03-07T16:18:43","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.earthrangers.com\/wildwire\/?p=6219"},"modified":"2016-11-03T09:49:11","modified_gmt":"2016-11-03T13:49:11","slug":"zombie-ant-attack","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.earthrangers.com\/EN\/CA\/omg_animals\/zombie-ant-attack\/","title":{"rendered":"Zombie Ant Attack!"},"content":{"rendered":"

The Atlantic rainforests of Brazil are a hotspot for biodiversity<\/a> but they are also one of the most threatened ecosystems. 92% of this rainforests original coverage has already been lost. One of the reasons it is so important to protect this rainforest is the amazing species that call this place home, like a zombifying ant fungus!<\/p>\n

\"ant<\/p>\n

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Researchers have recently discovered a group of four kinds of fungus that can take over an ant\u2019s body, controlling their behavior and turning them into zombies\u2026 spooky. After this fungus takes control of an unsuspecting ant it scopes out a sweet spot to spread its spores killing the poor zombie in the process.<\/p>\n

http:\/\/www.eurekalert.org\/pub_releases\/2011-03\/plos-fns030111.php<\/a><\/p>\n

Earth Rangers<\/a> is a non-profit organization that works to inspire and educate<\/a> children about the environment. At EarthRangers.com kids can play games<\/a>, discover amazing facts<\/a>, meet animal ambassadors<\/a> and fundraise<\/a> to protect biodiversity<\/a>.<\/em><\/h5>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Deep in the rainforests of Brazil a fungus exists that infects ants and turns them into zombies\u2026.spooky.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":11857,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[13,409,931],"tags":[221,166,286,112,119],"class_list":["post-6219","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","category-omg_animals","category-omg-facts","category-all","tag-ants","tag-disease","tag-fungi","tag-insect","tag-rainforest"],"pp_force_visibility":null,"pp_subpost_visibility":null,"pp_inherited_force_visibility":null,"pp_inherited_subpost_visibility":null,"acf":[],"aioseo_notices":[],"aioseo_head":"\n\t\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t