{"id":10610,"date":"2025-02-10T07:00:00","date_gmt":"2025-02-10T07:00:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.dailybase.com\/en\/?p=10610"},"modified":"2025-02-07T23:42:17","modified_gmt":"2025-02-07T23:42:17","slug":"new-zombie-fungus-turns-spiders-into-creepy-cave-crawlers","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.dailybase.com\/en\/new-zombie-fungus-turns-spiders-into-creepy-cave-crawlers\/","title":{"rendered":"New \u2018Zombie Fungus\u2019 Turns Spiders Into Creepy Cave Crawlers"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

Things like yummy pasta or gross infections probably come to mind whenever you think about Fungi. Something that you probably don’t think about is “Zombies.” However, scientists in the UK have discovered a fungus that takes control of cave spiders. The fungus would then change the behavior of its victim and make sure it acts like a real-life zombie spider. Keep reading to discover more about this new zombie fungus and the interactions it has with wildlife. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

The Discovery of a Fungal Puppet Master<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

The newly identified fungus<\/strong><\/a>, named Gibellula attenboroughii, was found in caves across Ireland and the UK. It shows similar behavior to the Ophiocordyceps fungus, known for turning ants into zombies. Researchers found that infected spiders become zombie versions of themselves and act differently. The spiders abandon the safety of their webs, making them more vulnerable to the environment. By doing so, the fungus increases its chances of spreading spores to new hosts. The discovery occurred during studies of cave ecosystems, where the unique conditions allowed hidden fungal diversity to flourish. Identifying this parasite raises important questions about the role of fungi in natural ecosystems and how they influence host behavior to ensure their own survival.<\/p>\n\n\n

\n
\"Spider
Photo Credit: Peta Pixel<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n

Scientists are not sure what the impact of the Zombie Fungus is!<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Since this is a recent discovery, scientists don’t fully understand the impact of the Gibellula Attenboroighii on spider populations yet. However, early observations suggest that the fungus may lead to significant changes in local spider communities. The fungus forces the spiders to leave their protective webs, which exposes them to predators and other environmental hazards. This can have a negative impact on the spider population as it can reduce their number over time. The study of this parasite highlights the need to explore hidden fungal species and their interactions with hosts. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Scientists believe that more organisms like this zombie fungus could exist, and are currently shaping the behaviour of animals in ways that still need to be uncovered. <\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Things like yummy pasta or gross infections probably come to mind whenever you think about Fungi. 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