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5th February 2025
10:34am GMT
A novel fungus that turns its hosts into 'zombies' has been found in spiders in the White Father's Caves between Cavan and Fermanagh.
The fungus has also been identified in spiders located in several other cave systems across the island of Ireland, including in Down - where it was first discovered during the filming of BBC's Winterwatch in 2021.
Named after broadcaster and biologist David Attenborough, the fungus is called Gibellula attenboroughii.
The fungus changes spiders' behaviour. It forces them to leave their concealed lair or web to die in an exposed position on the rook or walls of a cave.
It does this using the brain's happy chemical, dopamine, to make the spiders favour the dispersal of the fungal spores - infecting other spiders in the process - over preserving their own lives.
The fungus is said to only affect bugs, not humans.
Scientists say the behaviour of the fungus mirrors that of ants infected by fungi of the genus Ophiocordyceps, previously reported from the Atlantic rainforest of Brazil.
The discovery of the 'zombie ants' inspired The Last of Us video game, which was later adapted into a beloved TV series starring Pedro Pascal and Bella Ramsey.
The game and show take place in a post-apocalyptic world overrun by fungus-infected zombie humans.
Main image via CABI
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