Parasitic Tapeworm Extends Ant Lifespan by Altering Genes to Mimic Queen Biology
A study reveals how the tapeworm Anomotaenia brevis extends the lifespan of Temnothorax nylanderi worker ants in Germany. The parasite alters ant gene expression, making their fat bodies queen-like for longevity, while dampening brain activity for a quieter, lazier existence, aiding its own life cycle.








