destinylaharris

Tag: nature facts

  • 🧠 Brain Static #13

    Apparently, zombie ants are real.

    Well.

    Kind of.

    There are fungi in the Ophiocordyceps group that infect certain ants and eventually alter their behavior.

    The infected ant leaves its normal routine, climbs onto vegetation, and clamps its jaws down.

    Then it dies.

    And the fungus grows out of its body so it can release spores and infect more ants.

    So basically—

    the fungus uses the ant as transportation, decides where it would like the body parked, kills it there, and then uses the corpse to reproduce.

    🍄

    Nature really looked at zombies and said:

    I can do that.

    Anyway.

    Happy October.

    You’re welcome for the unnecessary information. 🖤

    Until next time,

    -Destiny

    P.S. If you knew an animal had been infected by something that could control its behavior, would you want to know how it worked—or would you rather remain blissfully ignorant?

  • 🧠 Brain Static #12: Moths Drink Tears

    Because apparently some moths will land on sleeping animals and drink the tears directly from their eyes.

    Not metaphorically.

    Not “they’re attracted to moisture.”

    They will perch beside an eyeball and sip.

    It’s called lachryphagy, and they’re after things like salts and other nutrients in the tears.

    Some species have been documented doing it to mammals, reptiles, and even sleeping birds.

    Which means somewhere out there is an animal peacefully asleep while a moth is standing on its face like:

    don’t mind me.

    👁️🦋

    And I’m sorry, but moths were already operating suspiciously close to the horror genre.

    They did not need this.

    Anyway.

    Happy October.

    You’re welcome for the unnecessary information. 🖤

    Until next time,

    -Destiny

    P.S. What’s one completely unnecessary fact that made you look at something differently afterward?

  • 🧠 Brain Static #6

    Sharks are older than trees.

    Not a tree.

    Trees.

    Sharks were swimming around before forests existed.

    I don’t know why, but this makes trees feel significantly less impressive.

    Until next time,

    —Destiny

    P.S. What’s something you assumed had existed basically forever?