Mermithergate

A mermithergate is an ant worker that has a changed appearance as a result of an Enoplia nematode infection.

[1] It is a combination of the nematode genus Mermis, for which Wheeler first described the phenomenon, and ergate, which means ant worker.

Up to 5% of some populations of Cephalotes atratus suffer from an infection by the tetradonematid nematode Myrmeconema neotropicum.

Birds easily mistake these for real fruit and pick them, while they avoid eating normal ants.

The circle closes when C. atratus workers feed on the bird droppings, thus getting infected.