A leaf-litter inhabiting cricket has rather spectacularly fallen prey to an entomopathogenic fungus. Armenia, Belize

Ophiocordyceps lloydii var. lloydii

An Ophiocordyceps lloydii var. lloydii ant-killing fungus sprouts two sexual fruiting bodies from the carcass of a Camponotus carpenter ant it has killed. Normally, this fungal species sprouts one sexual and one asexual stalk. Armenia, Belize (Thanks to João Araújo for the identification)

Cockroach killed by fungus

Refugio Amazonas, Tambopata, Peru.

Ophiocordyceps humbertii

A Polistes paper wasp succumbs to Ophiocordyceps humbertii in a Belizean forest. Armenia, Belize

Fungus-killed Macugonalia

An entomopathogenic fungus sprounts from the body of a sharpshooter it has killed. Minas Gerais, Brazil.

Massospora cicadina

Following infection with a fungal pathogen, the tip of this periodical cicadas' abdomen disintegrates, revealing a mass of spores that will fall to the ground, infect the next generation of cicadas, and then fall dormant for 17 years until the next mass emergence. Trotter's Bluff, Tennessee, USA.

Massospora cicadina

Following infection with a fungal pathogen, the tip of this periodical cicadas' abdomen disintegrates, revealing a mass of spores that will fall to the ground, infect the next generation of cicadas, and then fall dormant for 17 years until the next mass emergence. Trotter's Bluff, Tennessee, USA.

Ophiocordyceps lloydii var. lloydii

An Ophiocordyceps ant-killing fungus sprouts fruiting bodies from the carcass of a Camponotus carpenter ant it has killed. Armenia, Belize

Ophiocordyceps on Camponotus atriceps

Fungal hyphae begin to overtake the carcass of a Camponotus it has killed. Refugio Amazonas, Tambopata, Peru.

Wandering spider killed by fungus

Mindo, Pichincha, Ecuador.

Wandering spider killed by fungus

Mindo, Pichincha, Ecuador.

Ophiocordyceps

A fungus sends fruiting stalks out of a scale insect it has killed. Gatlinburg, Tennessee, USA.

Ophiocordyceps unilateralis

This Camponotus worker ant has succumbed to a fungus in the Ophiocordyceps unilateralis species complex. The ant's death is peculiarly gruesome. In the early stages of infection the fungus takes partial control over the ant's brain, directing the ant to an area where the humidity is optimal for fungal growth. There, the ant bites down on a leaf vein, anchoring it in place. The fungus then kills the insect, consumes the tissues, and issues a fruiting body. Jatun Sacha Reserve, Napo, Ecuador

Ophiocordyceps unilateralis

Ophiocordyceps unilateralis on a Camponotus carpenter ant. Armenia, Belize

Entomophthora sp.

An Entomophthora sp.parasitic fungus has killed this tachinid fly, itself a parasite of other insects. Illinois, USA (Thanks to João Araújo for the fungal identification)

This worker honeypot ant (Myrmecocystus mexicanus) is being consumed from within by a fungus, visible here as growths extruding from the body and appendages. As soil-dwelling creatures, ants are in constant battle against microbes that thrive in the warm, humid conditions of their nests. Chiricahua Mountains, Arizona, USA

Ophiocordyceps unilateralis

This Camponotus worker ant has succumbed to an Ophiocordyceps fungus in the unilateralis species complex. The ant's death is peculiarly gruesome. In the early stages of infection the fungus takes partial control over the ant's brain, directing the ant to an area where the humidity is optimal for fungal growth. There, the ant bites down on a leaf vein, anchoring it in place. The fungus then kills the insect, consumes the tissues, and issues a fruiting body. Jatun Sacha Reserve, Napo, Ecuador

Ophiocordyceps unilateralis

This Camponotus worker ant has succumbed to an Ophiocordyceps fungus in the unilateralis species complex. The ant's death is peculiarly gruesome. In the early stages of infection the fungus takes partial control over the ant's brain, directing the ant to an area where the humidity is optimal for fungal growth. There, the ant bites down on a leaf vein, anchoring it in place. The fungus then kills the insect, consumes the tissues, and issues a fruiting body.

Ophiocordyceps unilateralis

This Camponotus worker ant has succumbed to an Ophiocordyceps fungus. The ant's death is peculiarly gruesome. In the early stages of infection the fungus takes partial control over the ant's brain, directing the ant to an area where the humidity is optimal for fungal growth. There, the ant bites down on a leaf vein, anchoring it in place. The fungus then kills the insect, consumes the tissues, and issues a fruiting body. Jatun Sacha reserve, Napo, Ecuador

Entomophthora fungus on Coenosia fly

This small tiger fly has succumbed to a deadly fungus. Austin, Texas, USA.

Entomophthora fungus on Coenosia fly

This small tiger fly has succumbed to a deadly fungus. Austin, Texas, USA.

Ophiocordyceps dipterigena

The remains of a rainforest fly are glued to a palm leaf by the Ophiocordyceps dipterigena fungus that killed it. Gamboa, Panama (Thanks to João Araújo for the identification)

Ophiocordyceps lloydii var. binata

This Camponotus femoratus worker ant has succumbed to an Ophiocordyceps lloydii var. binata fungus. The ant's death is peculiarly gruesome. In the early stages of infection the fungus takes partial control over the ant's brain, directing the ant to an area where the humidity is optimal for fungal growth. There, the ant bites down on a leaf vein, anchoring it in place. The fungus then kills the insect, consumes the tissues, and issues a fruiting body. Jatun Sacha reserve, Napo, Ecuador

Ophiocordyceps lloydii var. binata

An Amazonian Camponotus femoratus carpenter ant has been killed, and its tissues replaced, by an aggressive Ophiocordyceps var. binata fungus. Jatun Sacha reserve, Napo, Ecuador