Scientists report that the Amazon “zombie-ant” fungus, known for controlling ant behavior, also survives in a hidden stage inside nearby forest mosses. The fungus, placed in the genus Ophiocordyceps, is widely recognized for infecting ants and manipulating them to leave their normal routines and bite plant material before they die. In the new study, researchers based at Brazil’s National Institute for Amazonian Research (INPA) in Manaus describe evidence that the fungus can live quietly within mosses. The finding suggests the parasite’s life cycle is not limited to ant hosts and may involve a broader ecological network across multiple plant and insect species. Scientists say the fungus’s presence in mosses, including at distances exceeding previously observed plant–ant infection dynamics, points to a more complex relationship among organisms in biodiverse rainforest habitats. The study, as reported by multiple outlets, reshapes understanding of how this parasite persists and evolves in the Amazon ecosystem, indicating that mosses may play a role before ants become infected.