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I would more think of the fungus from The Last Of Us. This fungus really exists (maybe not to this scale pictured) and it controls ants after infecting them. It directly controls their muscles, while growing a fruit body out of the ant’s head.
The fungus senses light and humidity. Therefor it climbs plants up and down. The ant is just a vehicle, like a robot body.
My old Car is capable of this fully self driving, too. Just put a brick on the accelerator, release the clutch and run!