Zombie Caterpillars
- Started
- Last post
- 9 Responses
- Crack_Junkie
A single gene in a caterpillar virus sends its victims running for the treetops, where they die and their bodies liquefy, sending an ooze of virus particles on their brothers and sisters below.
This species of baculovirus infects only gypsy moth caterpillars, essentially turning them into zombies. It stops the caterpillars from molting and sends them up into the tree leaves during the day (a behavior they normally save for the cover of darkness), where they die among the leaves as they wait to molt.
"They die there, and then they melt within hours after they die, and they are dripping virus down onto the leaves below," said study researcher Kelli Hoover, of Pennsylvania State University.
- lvl_130
just listened to the NPR-Science Friday where they talked about this. Fascinating.
- jon_d0
mad scientists better not fuck with this and try to unleash anything on us humans.
- deathboy0
http://www.wired.com/wiredscienc…
a bunch of different parasitic types
- jon_d0
beat me to it
- GeorgesII0
fuck everything about this thread! heheh