Callum Jones
An unusual fungus said to be turning spiders into 'zombies' is invading homes across the US, despite previously never being seen in the country.
Earlier this year, the newly found 'novel species' fungus named Gibellula attenboroughii made the headlines after infecting 'cave-dwelling, orb-weaving spiders'.
The infected spiders were reportedly positioned on the roof or walls of the caves, and the way G. attenboroughii spreads is just as chill-inducing.
Basically, once infected, the spiders experience behavioural changes, similar to how the ant fungus manipulates its hosts. The fungus then leads the spider to crawl to an open area, where air currents can better spread its spores.
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Once this process is revealed, a neurotoxin kills the spider while an antimicrobial substance preserves its body, allowing the fungus to take over and absorb all of its nutrients.
Center for Agriculture and Bioscience International researcher Harry Evans, who has worked on a study looking into the infected 'zombie' spiders, has detailed further how the process works.
"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 added: “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.”
Scientists are keen to stress, however, that they pose no threats to humans, but that hasn't stopped the fungi from invading homes across America.
"Infecting humans would require many, many millions of years of genetic modifications," assured João Araújo, who is a mycologist at the Natural History Museum of Denmark.
So, what does the 'zombie' spider actually look like in reality?
Well, photographer Ben Mitchell has been speaking to the WSJ, and claimed his first encounter with the strange species happened in Scotland in July 2024.
Speaking of what exactly he saw, 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 the appearance may look suspicious, the fungus may have some potential medical benefits, according to lead researcher Evans.
The substances the fungus produces could be a 'medical treasure chest', which may lead to applications like antibiotics and other medical advancements.