When Entomophaga grylli infects locusts or grasshoppers, they climb to the tops of plants before their death. The zombie-ant fungus Ophiocordyceps unilateralis infects ants and controls their behaviors to benefit fungal transmission. This type of parasite-manipulated host behavior is called an extended phenotype.



Summary

Certain parasites, like the fungus Entomophaga grylli in locusts and Ophiocordyceps unilateralis in ants, exhibit fascinating control over their hosts’ behavior. Before dying, infected locusts climb to elevated positions, and ants are manipulated to find optimal locations for fungal growth. These altered behaviors, driven by the parasite for its own propagation, are collectively known as an extended phenotype. The parasite’s genes influence the host’s actions, effectively extending the parasite’s reach beyond its own body.

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