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Zombie Fungus Turns Cave Spiders into Mindless Hosts

1/30/2025

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Summary

Story summary

A groundbreaking discovery in Northern Ireland reveals a parasitic fungus, Gibellula attenboroughii, that transforms cave-dwelling spiders into "zombies" before ultimately killing them. This eerie phenomenon, observed in orb-weaving cave spiders, showcases the fungus's ability to manipulate behavior, echoing the chilling tactics of infamous "zombie-ant fungi."

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Story summary

A groundbreaking discovery in Northern Ireland reveals a parasitic fungus, Gibellula attenboroughii, that transforms cave-dwelling spiders into "zombies" before ultimately killing them. This eerie phenomenon, observed in orb-weaving cave spiders, showcases the fungus's ability to manipulate behavior, echoing the chilling tactics of infamous "zombie-ant fungi."