A tactic familiar from insect behaviour seems to give viruses the edge in the eternal battle between them and their host.

New video catches viruses only a few hundred nanometres in size in the act of hopping over cells that are already infected. This allows them to concentrate their energies on previously uninfected cells, accelerating the spread of infection fivefold.

Viruses use ‘hive intelligence’ to focus their attack – life – 21 January 2010 – New Scientist.