March of the Zombie Ants

by Sophie Lubin

Illustration by Bruce Rosch

Invasive fire ants from South America now infest 13 southeastern states, destroying valuable farmland and delivering painful stings to anyone who gets in their way. They are notoriously difficult to get rid of. You can bait their mounds, spray them with insecticide, or pray that a passing armadillo will eat them. Now researchers at Texas A&M propose sending in the tiny phorid fly. After the insect lays its eggs in the ant's body, the developing maggot begins to eat its way through the brain. The ant staggers around for several hours, understandably disoriented. Then its head falls off. We can't wait for someone to buy the movie rights.



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