Newly Discovered Fungal Species Makes Zombies of Cave Spiders

Scientists have just discovered the new fungus Gibellula attenboroughii on cave spiders in Ireland during the filming of BBC’s Winterwatch! Named after Sir David Attenborough, this “zombie-fungus” manipulates spiders to leave their webs and die in exposed spots, allowing the fungus to spread its spores.

The study, led by Dr. Harry Evans, reveals a hidden diversity of these fungi in the UK and the role they play in spider populations. This discovery raises questions about their impact on spider populations and the powerful metabolites they produce.

https://phys.org/news/2025-01-newly-fungal-species-zombies-cave.html