5 Zombie Animals in Real World

VIVA – Zombie is a term used for the undead that prey on humans. Zombie usually only happen in Hollywood or Korean movies. But, actually in the animal world, the phenomenon is quite common because many animals and parasites attack other animals and make their hosts helpless like zombies.

This practice has been carried out by several animals that we may not be aware of. Some of them do these activities to survive, making them their homes, food, and even slaves. Here are 5 zombie animals in real world:

The wasp species Hymenoepimecis argyraphaga is a type of parasite that uses spiders as its slaves and food. This wasp will paralyze its prey with a sting.

When paralyzed, this insect will lay its eggs in the spider's stomach. When the eggs hatch, the wasp larvae will live inside the spider by sucking the spider's body fluids as their food.

After a few weeks, the larvae of the wasp Hymenoepimecis argyraphaga will poison the spider with a chemical that can change the spider's behavior. At this stage, the spider has become a 'zombie' that only hosts the wasp until it is old enough to fly.

This type of Nematomorph worm is one that lives in the body of a grasshopper or cricket. When they are old enough, they will use the protein to take over their host's central nervous system. This worm will force its host to jump into the nearest water.

The adult worms will then leave their host and start looking for partners to breed. In this stage, the host will die after being used as a place to live by Nematomorph worms.

3. Emerald Jewel Wasp

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tawon Emerald jewel wasp

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Almost similar to the wasp Hymenoepimecis argyraphaga, this Emerald jewel wasp is a type of gem wasp or parasitic wasp that grows inside other animals. This type of wasp uses cockroaches as its host. When the adult female wasp is ready to lay her eggs, she will land on the keca's back and stab it with a sting.

In an instant, the cockroach will be paralyzed and unable to move. After that, this wasp will inject poison into the cockroach's head which makes it have to follow the wasp's orders. The cockroach's body will be a place to live as well as a food source for wasp larvae.

4. Wasp or Glyptapanteles

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tawon yang berasal dari genus Glyptapanteles

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Still from the type of wasp but with a different species, this wasp from the genus Glyptapanteles is a parasite that uses other animals as its host. This type of female wasp will lay her eggs in the caterpillar's body which will then hatch and come out as larvae. Larvae that come out will begin to pupate and adult wasps.

However, other wasp larvae will remain in the caterpillar's body and control the caterpillar's body to serve as a guard. The larvae of this parasite will force the caterpillar's body to protect their cocoons from predators. When the adult wasp emerges from the cocoon, the caterpillar is left to die of starvation.

Ophiocordyceps unilateralis is a type of fungus that uses the body of ants to survive. The spores of this fungus enter through the hole in the ant's body which will then grow and consume the ant's internal organs.

Even more sinister, these ants have to stay alive so the fungus can consume their soft tissue.

When this fungus is mature enough to reproduce, it poisons the ant's brain and takes over its body. At this stage, the ant loses control of its body. The fungus will later grow from the ant's head and release spore powder which will infect other ants.

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However, other wasp larvae will remain in the caterpillar's body and control the caterpillar's body to serve as a guard. The larvae of this parasite will force the caterpillar's body to protect their cocoons from predators. When the adult wasp emerges from the cocoon, the caterpillar is left to die of starvation.