Unfortunately for the Ghost Butterfly, this parasite is not indifferent to its larvae and therefore steals their bodies and feeds underground for months, sending them to the surface and killing them there.
The nature of our planet may be beautiful, but it can also be extremely cruel. What is this parasitic fungus that feeds on the larvae of ghost butterflies, feeding on them for months underground, and then sending them to the surface, writes IFLScience.
We’re talking about the Himalayan caterpillar fungus (Ophiocordyceps sinensis), also known as the world’s most valuable parasite, or a fungus that turns into zombie caterpillars. It is known that the parasite lives inside the larvae of ghost butterflies and is transmitted during the summer months while the caterpillars are still underground. It then literally abducts and enslaves their bodies and slowly devours its host over the next few months, until the caterpillar sends zombies to the surface of the earth and decapitates the fruiting body there, killing them.
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This very deadly duo is well known in Tibet and China, where they even got the poetic name “winter worm, summer grass.” This is because to people on the earth’s surface, the fungus looks like the stems of a plant sticking out of the ground. However, locals have long learned to identify this mushroom – its popularity and cost are to blame.
In China, this valuable parasite is also called “soft gold”, here you can get from 20 to 40 thousand dollars per kilogram of the fungus. However, if you come across a particularly large specimen of Ophiocordyceps sinensis, you can even get $140,000 for it. Note that this mushroom is not unique in its ability to enslave other creatures, but there is still something special about it.
So in 2013 scientists studied Ophiocordyceps sinensis and concluded that it contains about 30 bioactive substances, including:
- anti-arteriosclerotic properties;
- antidepressant properties;
- anti-osteoporosis properties;
- photo protection;
- prevention and treatment of intestinal damage;
- increased endurance;
- memory enhancement.
It should be noted that this extremely expensive parasite has been used in traditional medicine for the last 700 years, and the market for this mushroom is as strong as ever. However, in recent years, the fungus itself has become endangered due to overuse, habitat degradation and climate change.
Researchers believe that further climate change and global warming are endangering the world’s most valuable parasite. The truth is, research shows it’s more productive in colder conditions, preferring habitats with frozen soils – at least for part of the year.
Previously Focus He wrote that the zombie infection in The Last of Us does exist, but has some differences.
Source: Focus
Ashley Fitzgerald is an accomplished journalist in the field of technology. She currently works as a writer at 24 news breaker. With a deep understanding of the latest technology developments, Ashley’s writing provides readers with insightful analysis and unique perspectives on the industry.