A groundbreaking discovery in Myanmar has revealed a 99-million-year-old amber specimen containing a fly and a juvenile ant infected by parasitic fungi. This finding, published in the journal *Proceedings of the Royal Society B*, offers a rare look into ancient parasitic relationships.
The study identified two new species of fungi: *Paleoophiocordyceps gerontoformicae* infecting the ant, and *Paleoophiocordyceps ironomyiae* infecting the fly. These fossils suggest that parasitic interactions were already established during the Cretaceous period.
Modern Ophiocordyceps fungi are known for controlling insect behavior. The fossilized specimens indicate that *Paleoophiocordyceps* likely exhibited similar parasitic strategies. This discovery highlights the long-standing evolutionary relationship between these fungi and their insect hosts.
The exceptional preservation of these fossils provides a unique glimpse into ancient ecosystems. It demonstrates that complex parasitic behaviors have been a part of Earth's biodiversity for tens of millions of years.