Recently, a new type of zombie has been discovered – the zombie fly. A new study conducted by researchers from the University of Toronto reveals that a species of fungus, Massospora, is able to take over the minds of male flies, turning them into “zombie puppets”. The fungus is able to hijack the behavior of the fly and cause it to display unusual behaviors, such as a compulsive need to shake its body and wings, and even attempt to mate with other objects like pieces of wood. The fungus does this by secreting chemicals that interfere with the fly’s physiology, causing it to behave oddly and become a “puppet” of the fungus. As the fungus continues to grow, it eventually takes over the fly’s entire body, and the fly dies.

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source: Phys.org