In reality, "zombie-ant fungus" or Ophiocordyceps unilateralis, is a parasitic fungus that infects and manipulates the behavior of carpenter ants, ultimately leading to their death.

The fungus creates "zombie ants" and hijacks their jaws to cause suicide According to research published in 2019, scientists observed one variation of the fungus infecting ant populations.

Scientists discovered a fungus that caused spiders to "exhibit behavioral changes similar to those reported for zombie ants." ...

The species of fungus that infected the prehistoric ant may be an ancestor of zombie-ant fungi, and thus likely controlled its host’s body in similar ways, said study coauthor João Araújo ...

The species of fungus that infected the prehistoric ant may be an ancestor of zombie-ant fungi, and thus likely controlled its host’s body in similar ways, said study coauthor João Araújo ...

The species of fungus that infected the prehistoric ant may be an ancestor of zombie-ant fungi, and thus likely controlled its host’s body in similar ways, said study coauthor João Araújo ...

An ant pupa infected with a parasitic fungus is seen encased in 99 million-year-old amber. - Nanjing Institute of Geology and Palaeontology, Chinese Academy of Sciences/NIGPAS ...