Ophiocordyceps unilateralis

Ophiocordyceps unilateralis is a kind of fungus, which means it's like a plant that lives in the dirt. This specific type of fungus lives in some kinds of tropical forests, and it likes to live on certain kinds of ants. The fungus takes over the ant's body and makes it do things that it wouldn't normally do! The ant first finds a good spot on a leaf or branch, and then it clamps down its jaws so it can't move. Then the fungus sends out spores, which are like little seeds, and these spores make the ant do weird things like climb higher and higher up the tree. Eventually, the ant dies, and the fungus grows out of its head, releasing even more spores to try and find even more ants! It's a pretty cool and creepy process!