Post AqcbUfw3K98B6VEgBk by numist@xoxo.zone
 (DIR) More posts by numist@xoxo.zone
 (DIR) Post #AqcaJrpEg1XQqBKUrY by futurebird@sauropods.win
       2025-01-30T22:17:57Z
       
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       Some interesting thoughts from EntoExporer on why ants infected with some fungi may climb up high and latch on to a leaf. This makes sense of a study that confused me. These fungi tend to destroy the nervous system and brains of ants *last* while winding their way all through the guts and muscles. So, that made me wonder: how could the fungi "force" the ants to do such a thing if not in control of their brains? https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hg1PH14kv8I
       
 (DIR) Post #AqcaOrg4eaPFpXQYca by futurebird@sauropods.win
       2025-01-30T22:18:50Z
       
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       Baking in the sun makes sense. I just got over a horrible flu, ran a terrible fever, and I think the fever "worked" since after it I was better. But ants can't run fevers ... except by laying in the sun. Fevers have a purpose. They are, of course, also dangerous in their own way. But when your body is feeling overwhelmed? drastic measures.
       
 (DIR) Post #AqcahVMtp5wY8pLZE8 by aeveltstra@mastodon.social
       2025-01-30T22:22:11Z
       
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       @futurebird Sanatoriums existed for good reason?
       
 (DIR) Post #AqcbHaoD4ZyXRKKSrw by sophieschmieg@infosec.exchange
       2025-01-30T22:28:43Z
       
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       @futurebird I don't know about insects, but reptiles will actively increase their body temperature by lying in the sun when they're sick. In general, your immune system and your brain talk to each other, that's why you only want to lie in bed and do nothing when sick, and don't get horribly bored.Given the effectiveness invertebrates might have similar strategies.
       
 (DIR) Post #AqcbUfw3K98B6VEgBk by numist@xoxo.zone
       2025-01-30T22:30:57Z
       
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       @futurebird Huh! Always interesting when evolutionary pressure results in behaviour that may benefit the individual (behavioural fever) while increasing risk to other individuals (spores spread better from altitude).
       
 (DIR) Post #AqcbWeh4uXElpgAxQO by futurebird@sauropods.win
       2025-01-30T22:31:28Z
       
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       @sophieschmieg "that's why you only want to lie in bed and do nothing when sick, and don't get horribly bored."oh. hm... well about that:https://sauropods.win/@futurebird/113856560043086118
       
 (DIR) Post #AqceqKvAR1WSA8qGo4 by albertcardona@mathstodon.xyz
       2025-01-30T23:08:34Z
       
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       @futurebird Wasn't there a study that showed how fungal hypha extend to control the muscles directly, bypassing the host's nervous system? Like this one:"Three-dimensional visualization and a deep-learning model reveal complex fungal parasite networks in behaviorally manipulated ants", Fredericksen et al.  (Hughes lab) 2017https://www.pnas.org/doi/full/10.1073/pnas.1711673114Suppl. movie S1 shows "one muscle fiber (red) surrounded by 25 connected O. unilateralis s.l. hyphal bodies (yellow)"https://movie-usa.glencoesoftware.com/video/10.1073/pnas.1711673114/video-1#neuroscience #zombies #ants #entomology #parasitism
       
 (DIR) Post #AqcfS5Hl13ymfpPLtI by sophieschmieg@infosec.exchange
       2025-01-30T23:15:26Z
       
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       @futurebird well, I guess more accurately it makes you want to lie in bed and not have energy to do anything. Unfortunately, all your body is evolved for is for you to get healthy again, not for that to be a particularly pleasant experience.