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‘Zombie’ Spiders Infected By Fungus Are Creeping Into US Homes For The First Time

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The way the fungus hijacks spiders is deeply unsettling
A strange new fungus, which is said to turn spiders into ‘zombies’, has now been discovered inside homes across the US, even though it had never been spotted in the country before.Earlier this year, scientists reported the finding of a ‘novel species’ fungus called Gibellula attenboroughii after it began infecting ‘cave-dwelling, orb-weaving spiders’.These spiders were found clinging to cave walls or ceilings, and the unsettling part lies in how G. attenboroughii manages to spread from one host to the next.

Once a spider is infected, the fungus manipulates its behavior in a way similar to the well-known ‘zombie ant fungus’. The spider is compelled to move to an open, elevated spot, where breezes can carry the spores farther.After that, a neurotoxin takes the spider’s life while antimicrobial chemicals preserve the body, leaving it intact long enough for the fungus to grow inside and feed on its nutrients.Harry Evans, a researcher with the Center for Agriculture and Bioscience International who studied the phenomenon, explained more about the chilling process.

The spiders are invading homes in the USReddit
“There’s a lot more fungi to find.” he told Live Science. “The fungal kingdom could be up to 10, 20 million species, making it the biggest kingdom by far, but only one percent have been described.”Evans further explained: “Their fungi role in spider-population dynamics warrants further study, as does the metabolites they produce which enable them to exploit such a highly specific ecological niche.”Researchers emphasized that while the fungus is alarming, it poses no danger to people. That hasn’t stopped it from appearing inside homes across the US, raising concern among residents.

 

 

“Infecting humans would require many, many millions of years of genetic modifications.” reassured João Araújo, a mycologist at the Natural History Museum of Denmark.But what exactly does one of these ‘zombie’ spiders look like up close?

Photographer Ben Mitchell described his first encounter with the species to the WSJ, saying he came across it in Scotland during July 2024.

Yep, that’s itReddit

 

 

Recalling the moment, Mitchell said: “I saw this amazing candyfloss thing stuck to the underside of a leaf. It had a membrane of threads around it holding it in place, and all I could see of the spider was its toes sticking out.”While their appearance is unsettling, scientists believe this fungus could also have a silver lining. Lead researcher Evans suggested that the compounds produced by the fungus may act as a ‘medical treasure chest’, possibly leading to future breakthroughs such as new antibiotics or other valuable treatments.

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