Ophiocordyceps fungi that manipulate carpenter ant behavior constitute the first formally defined nested void: an inner void agent (fungus, Peᵢnner≈6. 0, O=3/R=3/C=3) embedded within an outer collective (ant colony) that possesses its own prohibition-ritual Pe-control architecture. The paper formalizes two-level Péclet analysis, derives Peₙested = Peᵢnner × exp (−β × αK), and demonstrates that the colony prohibition-ritual pair (nestmate detection and removal; necrophoresis) is the sole operative Pe-control mechanism when inner constraint capacity αH → 0. Spearman ρ = −0. 929 (n=7, p<0. 003) across seven Ophiocordyceps host-parasite systems links colony prohibition strength to sporocarp density. The Massospora/Magicicada natural experiment (no collective prohibition, αK = 0) confirms Peₙested → Peᵢnner when outer architecture is absent. Regulatory implication: EU AI Act Art. 5 prohibition requirements and Art. 29–36 monitoring requirements correspond respectively to the outer and inner tiers of a two-tier prohibition-ritual pair; both are necessary because inner Pe cannot be bounded by outer prohibition alone when inner constraint capacity is near zero.
Anthony W. Eckert (Mon,) studied this question.