US EditionNewly Discovered Fungus Manipulates Spiders into 'Zombie-Like' Behavior
- A new fungus named Gibellula Attenboroughii has been discovered in Irish caves, causing common cave spiders to become 'zombies' after infection, according to speleologist Tim Fogg.
- The fungus manipulates spider behavior using chemicals, forcing them out of crevices to spread spores, as explained by Tim Fogg.
- Dr. Harry Evans and a team confirmed the fungus as a novel species, named after Sir David Attenborough, and published their findings in Fungal Systematics and Evolution.
- Further research is needed on the fungus's impact on spider populations and its potential medical applications, as stated by Tim Fogg.
61 Articles
61 Articles
Mind-altering parasite takes control of host spiders before killing them
Deep in the caves of Ireland, scientists have discovered a mind-altering parasite that takes control of spiders, forcing them to abandon their webs before ultimately meeting a gruesome end. This newly identified species, named Gibellula attenboroughii after the legendary natural historian Sir David Attenborough, is part of a rare group of fungi that manipulate their hosts' behavior in eerily precise ways. The mind-altering parasitic fungus was f…
In Ireland, documentary filmmakers make an amazing discovery: a dead spider whose body is covered with white fungal spores. Investigations have shown that this is not only a new type of mushroom, but also a very special type of mushroom. This turns their victims into “zombies.”
The kingdom of nature is plagued by multiple types of relationships between species: mutualism, comensalism, predation, symbiosis... and, of course, also the 'parasitism', by which one organism lives at the expense of another. One very curious case is that of lichens, a type of organisms formed by the symbiosis of fungi with unicellular algae, which grows in humid places and spreading over rocks or barks of trees.Every day, the world around us s…
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