When most travelers think of zombies, they think of the best haunted houses in Las Vegas, but in this case, it's even scarier than a haunted house. A fungus straight out of a horror movie has been discovered, turning cave spiders into mindless "zombies" before killing them.
First spotted during the filming of a BBC nature documentary in Northern Ireland, the parasitic fungus named Gibellula attenboroughii infiltrates spiders' bodies, hijacks their nervous systems, and forces them to abandon their safe hiding spots before death.
At least we know Northern Ireland isn't on the list of places to go if the world is about to end. If this virus makes the jump to humans, it might just be the start of the end of the world. This ghoulish relationship between fungus and arachnid is helping researchers better understand evolutionary adaptation and may even offer clues for developing new medicines.
Let's see what this fungus does and why it's so important to us humans.
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Chance Discovery Leads To A Nightmare Animal Relationship
BBC film crew stumbles upon infected spider during documentary filming
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The story of this nightmare-inducing fungus named after a celebrity begins in 2021 when a BBC production crew was filming the nature documentary series "Winterwatch" in Northern Ireland. While working at Castle Espie, a wetland reserve, the team noticed something peculiar on the ceiling of an abandoned Victorian gunpowder storeroom - a normally reclusive orb-weaving cave spider (Metellina merianae) completely exposed, with its body overtaken by a fuzzy white growth.
The crew photographed the bizarre specimen, and the images eventually reached Dr. Harry Evans, an emeritus fellow at CAB International, a nonprofit organization specializing in environmental and agricultural research.
After examining the photos, Dr. Evans suspected they had discovered a new fungus species. However, Dr. Evans' discovery wasn't the end of proceedings. Instead, it was the start of a much broader exploration.
Fungi taking over animals is nothing new. Most people are well aware of Ophiocordyceps and its ability to control ants, making them spread the spores to the rest of their anthill.
A Fungal Outbreak: How Many Spiders Are Affected By The Parasite
It's more than just one spider in an isolated incident
Anomalies happen occasionally in the animal kingdom, so spotting a single orb weaver with fungus growing out of it wasn't so odd. There are some quite strange animals in the animal kingdom, after all. However, when the BBC nature program aired, a cave explorer named Tim Fogg contacted Dr. Evans. He had some information that would blow the lid off this case.
Fogg reported seeing similar infected spiders in cave systems across Ireland and Northern Ireland, all positioned in unusually exposed locations - a critical clue that would help scientists understand the fungus's manipulative effects on its hosts.
Fungal Species Documented
~ 150,000
Compared to Existing Species
5%
Family
Gibellula
How The Fungal Mind Control Works On Its Spider Victims
Chemical signals force spiders to leave their lairs
This isn't some Jedi mind-trick or some fancy prestidigitation; it's all done with chemicals. Now, we should be grateful this thing doesn't attempt to control the world's deadliest spider, but still, it's impressive what it does to the instincts of these orb weavers.
The process begins when fungal spores land on a spider. These spores penetrate the spider's exoskeleton and multiply inside its body, eventually taking complete control. Both infected spider species are typically shy, reclusive arachnids that prefer to hide near their webs in dark corners. Yet researchers found all the infected spiders exposed on cave walls and ceilings.
For those who wonder, yes, the spider was named in honor of the famed science educator, broadcaster, and naturalist, Sir David Attenborough.
Beyond Ireland: Wider Distribution And Similar Cases
Evidence suggests the fungus may be more widespread
This isn't just isolated to Northern Ireland, however. This zombie plague menace is spreading. While G. attenboroughii was first documented in Ireland, evidence suggests it may have a broader distribution. Researchers suspect the same fungus might be responsible for infected M. merianae specimens observed in Wales, where spiders were found on sphagnum moss surrounding rock fissures rather than in their typical hiding spots.
Another recently discovered example is the Massospora cicadina fungus, which infects cicadas and turns them into what scientists descriptively call "saltshakers of death" as they spread spores when their abdomens explode. That's not a salt shaker anyone wants on their dinner table.
Species
Fungus
Ants
Ophiocordyceps unilateralis
Cicada
Massospora cicadina
Spiders
Gibellula attenboroughii
What Does This Mean For Us As Humans?
It won't infect us, but it could lead to things that save us
Though the relationship between G. attenboroughii and its spider hosts seems straight out of a nightmare, this discovery could ultimately benefit human health. The delivery system these fungi use could be a game-changer for drug release mechanisms to treat Alzheimer's and other debilitating illnesses.
The discovery of zombie spiders in Ireland highlights how much we still have to learn about the fungal kingdom. Hopefully, the next set of fungii researchers discover aren't trying to enslave another species.