Zombie Science

Apparently, jewel wasps and phorid flies know how to turn other insects into zombies. Check out the disturbing photos...

http://news.nationalgeographic.com/news/2009/05/photogalleries/zombie-ants/index.html

http://news.nationalgeographic.com/news/2007/12/071206-roach-zombie.html

I'm torn between respecting the source and dismissing it based on the wording.

The "Zombie Roach" only has it's walking disabled and the "Zombie Ant" only gets it brain eaten by larvae... still, in the World of Darkness the reports could be a lot more... disturbing and frightening. Real Zombie animals (and people?), for instance.

well it mentioned the ant could have a compulsion to feel it's attacking hive-mates...

creepy

That would've been awesome but it's the other way around (less zombie and more Promethean style ). Get brain-suction, lose sync with the nest, get attacked, flee up to 50 meters to avoid attacks. Still, that would indeed have been a nice little twist to make. Especially if it wasn't stopped the first few attacks and got to murder other ants.

BBQ is right; the fly tells the ant to run away from its colony so that the fly can avoid being attacked as it comes out.

BBQ is wrong; the wasp doesn't just lose it's ability to walk; it is compelled underground into the wasps nest, also.

It is very creepy : D

Fractured wrote:BBQ is right; the fly tells the ant to run away from its colony so that the fly can avoid being attacked as it comes out.

Which is wicked awesome in it's own right. Still, I'm torn. How do they know the ant is compelled by the fly? Or do they mean indirectly compelled (because it loses certain brain functions)?

Fractured wrote:BBQ is wrong; the wasp doesn't just lose it's ability to walk; it is compelled underground into the wasps nest, also.

Do you mean the roach? If so, it is pulled into the wasps nest (presumably by the wasp). Still, that would be another very WoDesque twist to add to the mix.

Fractured wrote:It is very creepy : D

Insects just might be the most inhuman animals ever.


Also, completely forgot my first reason to post here;

Thumbs up for finding these little gems, Fractured. Very good stuff.

Yes, I meant the roach. /slaps head.

Thanks, BBQ : )

I'm think Spirit hybrids that eat people they posses, forcing them to hide indoors to stay unnoticed. like a virus attacking cells.

Oh, that's nasty. "Haven't seen Bob around much lately..."

A hoard of Gluttony's minions feasting upon humanity and dragging the spoils back into the Shadow.

Khalvin wrote:A hoard of Gluttony's minions feasting upon humanity and dragging the spoils back into the Shadow.

sounds like nurgle