
27/09/2025
In a chilling example of natureâs dark side, a parasitic phorid fly lays its egg inside an antâs body. The larva then slowly makes its way upward, feeding on the antâs tissues but carefully avoiding vital organs to keep the ant alive and moving. This clever strategy allows the ant to continue walking, unaware of the deadly invader inside.
When the larva reaches the antâs neck, it consumes the muscles there, causing the antâs head to detach completely. The larva then takes up residence inside the hollowed-out skull, using it as a protective shell where it pupates safely. This grisly lifecycle showcases the remarkable, if unsettling, ways parasites can manipulate their hosts to survive.