Story perspectives

New Fungus Discovered: Manipulates Spiders to Their Deaths

3/17/2026

Summary

Story summary

Scientists discovered a new fungus, Gibellula attenboroughii, in Northern Ireland during a documentary shoot.
The fungus manipulates the behavior of spiders, notably the shaded orbweaver Metellina merianae, causing them to abandon their webs and migrate to die.
In 2021, scientists identified the fungus in an abandoned gunpowder storeroom.
The study highlights the need for further research on the fungus's role in spider populations and its behavioral-altering metabolites.

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Story summary

Scientists discovered a new fungus, Gibellula attenboroughii, in Northern Ireland during a documentary shoot.
The fungus manipulates the behavior of spiders, notably the shaded orbweaver Metellina merianae, causing them to abandon their webs and migrate to die.
In 2021, scientists identified the fungus in an abandoned gunpowder storeroom.
The study highlights the need for further research on the fungus's role in spider populations and its behavioral-altering metabolites.