Bug Fungus

Pharyngula had a great video up yesterday about fungi that invade insects. It's so disgusting it's cool. That's not part of the bug sticking out of the ant's head below, it's a mushroom with a mission. It's more obvious in the second picture. And the shrooms aren't growing after the bug is dead - they're the cause de morte. If I understand my science right, this is a primo example of the Red Queen in action - an arms race with fungi where the currently victorious bug of the forest becomes the one most likely to suffer at the...slime...of fungi and disease. Wheet.