New Fungus Discovered Turning Spiders into 'Zombies'

northern ireland - A newly discovered fungus named after David Attenborough is infecting spiders, turning them into zombies.

New Fungus Discovered Turning Spiders into 'Zombies'

A recently discovered fungus, named after documentary maker David Attenborough, is affecting spiders in a way that makes them appear like zombies. The BBC nature program Winterwatch team found this phenomenon.

The fungus, named 'Gibellula attenboroughii', was first found in 2021 in a cave system in Northern Ireland. It was named as a tribute to the British biologist and documentary maker David Attenborough.

The parasitic fungus had infected cave orb-weaving spiders and cave wolf spiders, species abundant in the caves and acting as perfect hosts. Infected spiders exhibit behavior similar to the so-called 'zombie ants' found in the Brazilian rainforest. Manipulated by the fungus 'Ophiocordyceps', these ants leave their nests, die outside, and then the fungus starts releasing spores, growing a mushroom-like structure out of the insect to infect new hosts.

In the case of 'Gibellula attenboroughii', the affected spiders were found clinging to cave walls or ceilings. They had abandoned their usual burrows or webs before succumbing to the infection.

While the fungus was first featured on Winterwatch in 2021, a recent study published in the journal Fungal Systematics and Evolution confirmed it as a new fungal species. Lead by Harry Evans from CAB International, the research team aims to investigate if the newly discovered fungus produces behavior-altering substances like 'Ophiocordyceps' and how it may impact spider populations in the long run.