Virus seems to turn caterpillars into zombies

[n2doc]

By Amina Khan, Los Angeles Times
September 9, 2011, 10:14 p.m.
Scientists have isolated a viral gene that induces zombie-like behavior — in caterpillars. The virus causes gypsy moth caterpillars to climb to the tops of trees, where they die and their disintegrating bodies rain infectious particles on their unsuspecting brethren below.

The discovery, published in Friday's edition of the journal Science, highlights a singular pathogen gene that manipulates the behavior of its host.

Researchers had long commented on the odd behavior of caterpillars infected by the virus, dubbed LdMNPV (short for Lymantria dispar nucleopolyhedrovirus). Typically, caterpillars travel down tree trunks in the daytime to avoid predators. But the sickened crawlers headed in the other direction, meeting their deaths in the tree canopy.

"You end up with this sack of virus that opens up," said lead author Kelli Hoover, an entomologist at Pennsylvania State University. "It melts and it's gooey and you get of them raining down and spreading down on the leaves. It's a very efficient virus."

more

http://www.latimes.com/news/science/la-sci-zombie-virus-20110910,0,906073.story

[bettyellen]

1. I prefer the zombie ants that climb up blades of grass to have cows eat them

[Warpy]

2. It's no more repulsive than those caterpillars, themselves

Serious infestations sound like rain as they strip every single leaf off every single tree and their feces rattle down on the previous fall's litter below. I was allergic to it, so if any got on my skin, I ended up breaking out in hives.

Gypsy moth caterpillars are horrible things. I'm glad there's another control besides BT, which works too slowly to make much of a dent in them.

[pokerfan]

3. Awesome!

http://www.smbc-comics.com:8000/comics/20110808.gif