Zombie Command

In a bid to control the fire ant population (mad?) scientists in Texas turn parasitic phorid flies loose on the unsuspecting insects!

Fire ants cause approximately $1 Billion worth of damage in Texas every year and releasing the flies helps keep their movement and numbers under control.

The flies “dive-bomb” the fire ants and lay eggs. The maggot that hatches inside the ant eats away at the brain, and the ant starts exhibiting what some might say is zombie-like behavior.

“At some point, the ant gets up and starts wandering,” said Rob Plowes, a research associate at UT.

The maggot eventually migrates into the ant’s head, but Plowes said he “wouldn’t use the word ‘control’ to describe what is happening. There is no brain left in the ant, and the ant just starts wandering aimlessly. This wandering stage goes on for about two weeks.”

About a month after the egg is laid, the ant’s head falls off and the fly emerges ready to attack any foraging ants away from the mound and lay eggs.

Plowes said fire ants are “very aware” of these tiny flies, and it only takes a few to cause the ants to modify their behavior.

“Just one or two flies can control movement or above-ground activity,” Plowes said. “It’s kind of like a medieval activity where you’re putting a castle under siege.”

But if their brain is already destroyed can they still technically be called zombies? What if these scientists unwittingly create an un-killable zombie?! Won’t somebody think of the children? Oh the huge manatee!

For the full article check out the Star Telegram.

Courtesy of the official Left 4 Dead blog PC L4D players now have access to the official authoring tools to help them craft their own Zombocalypse!

L4D runs on the ‘Hammer’ source level editor and comes with an updated suite of programs to help you get the most out of your zombie adventures.

Players have already begun work on updating the Resident Evil series and recreating the mall scene from Dawn of the Dead before the official tools were released, so work should be completed on them with the Director AI in place for some fantastic new maps for PC players, yay!

Lost Zombies have a competition on their site to win a signed copy of Breathers by S.G. Browne from Undead Anonymous.

You need to write a letter instructing loved ones what to do if you ever get bitten by a zombie (and if you are going to get bitten by a zombie make sure to check out our survival guides once they get published).

Check out the full rules here.

We are currently compiling a crack team of writers and survivors to bring you the very latest in zombie news, reviews and survival tips for the impending Zombocalypse.

While the site is under construction why not instead check out some of the zombie happenings on the web that we’ll be providing.

Remember, live prepared!