Zombie caterpillars controlled by voodoo wasps

From The New Scientist (HT: Tom Smith, whose post collects a bunch of other creepy science stuff):

The parasitoid wasp Glyptapanteles lays its eggs, about 80 at a time, in young geometrid caterpillars. The eggs hatch and the larvae feed on the caterpillar’s body fluids. When they are fully developed, they eat through the caterpillar’s skin, attach themselves to a nearby branch or leaf and wrap themselves up in a cocoon. At this point, something remarkable and slightly eerie happens.

The caterpillar, still alive, behaves as though controlled by the cocooned larvae. Instead of going about its usual daily business, it stands arched over the cocoons without moving away or feeding.

Posted on Thursday, June 12 2008 | Permalink

Does this explain Doug Kmiec?

Posted by  on  06/12  at  10:04 AM

Nothing explains Doug Kmiec.  I’ve heard mid-life crisis, man crush, alzheimers, federal judgeship, etc.

Posted by  on  06/13  at  05:18 PM
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