This Killer Fungus Turns Flies into Zombies | Deep Look

Summary

This script narrates the chilling tale of a fruit fly's demise at the hands of a parasitic fungus. The fly, initially unsuspecting, ingests a spore that infiltrates its body and mind, eventually forcing it to climb high and die in a position that maximizes spore dispersal. Despite efforts to harness this fungus for pest control, it remains a fascinating but lethal natural phenomenon exclusive to insects, with no threat to humans.

Takeaways

• 🐛 The fruit fly's brain is hijacked by a fungus, leading to its death.
• 🍇 The infection begins when the fly ingests an invisible fungus spore from overripe fruit.
• 🕒 After a few days, the fungus starts to control the fly's behavior.
• 🌆 The fly exhibits 'summiting' behavior, climbing to a high place at dusk on the fourth or fifth day.
• 🤧 The fungus takes full control, causing the fly to spit out a sticky liquid that glues it in place.
• 🦟 The fly dies in a position that allows the fungus to launch its spores.
• 💣 The fungus uses the fly's body to launch hundreds of spores, ensuring its next generation's spread.
• 🧬 At Harvard, Carolyn Elya is researching how the fungus manipulates the fly's neurons.
• 🚫 The fungus is not harmful to humans and cannot be used to control fly populations.
• 🔬 Scientists have tried to harness the fungus's power to kill flies but have been unsuccessful due to its fragility and short lifespan.
• 📺 The script is a transcript from a video, suggesting a visual component to the story.

Q & A

What organism is described as hijacking the fruit fly's brain?

The organism described is a type of fungus that infects the fruit fly.

How does the fungus initially infect the fruit fly?

The fungus infects the fruit fly by attaching to an invisible spore that the fly picks up while walking around and sipping on overripe fruit.

What happens to the fruit fly after the fungus has infected it?

After infection, the fungus grows inside the fly, feeding on its fat and eventually infiltrating its mind, leading to erratic behavior and ultimately death.

What is the term for the behavior where the infected fly climbs to a high place?

The term for this behavior is 'summiting.'

What does the fungus do to the fly once it has control of its actions?

Once the fungus has control, it makes the fly climb high, stick out its mouthpart to spit out a drop of sticky liquid, and then die in a position that allows the fungus to launch its spores.

How does the fungus spread to other flies?

The fungus spreads by launching spores from the dead fly's body. These spores can catch a breeze and infect other flies.

What is the purpose of the secondary spore mentioned in the script?

The secondary spore is used to increase the chances of spreading when the primary spores land on a wing, which they cannot penetrate.

What is the hypothesis of how the fungus takes control of the fly's brain according to Carolyn Elya?

Carolyn Elya hypothesizes that the fungus secretes chemicals to manipulate the fly's neurons, potentially stimulating those that make flies climb.

Is the fungus dangerous to humans?

No, the fungus is not dangerous to humans.

Have there been any successful attempts to use this fungus for pest control in kitchens and farms?

Despite attempts, scientists have not been successful in harnessing the fungus for pest control in kitchens and farms.

Why are the attempts to use the fungus for pest control unsuccessful?

The attempts are unsuccessful because the deadly spores are fragile and short-lived, making them ineffective for practical use.