I was just updating myself with some news from the National Geographic, and there was this interesting post about mimicry of a fruit plant by parasitic worms.

For many species of insects, mimicry is one of the key to survival. However in a latest findings by an insect ecologist – mimicry caused by parasites can be life torturing for some insects such as ants.

Here’s what I mean when you see these photos:

This tropical ant of the species Cephalotes atratus is infected with a parasitic roundworm that makes its bulbous rear end, called a gaster, look like a juicy red berry. Researchers believe the parasites transform the gasters to trick foraging birds into eating the ants. Birds poop out parasite eggs, allowing the worms to spread to new ant colonies.

The Cephalotes atratus ants are common in the tropical forest canopy in Central and Latin America. If knocked off a branch, they can glide toward the tree trunk, grab hold, and climb back up.

  - photos by Steve Yanoviak and National Geographic

Insect ecologist Steve Yanoviak says the finding is the first known example of fruit mimicry caused by a parasite in the world.

Such as an amazing discovery, isn’t it? Too bad for the ants, they enjoy feeding on birds’ feces which contain those worms that causes this strange life cycle to go on. Well, that’s nature!

You can read the full story here:
http://news.nationalgeographic.com/news/2008/01/photogalleries/ant-pictures/index.html