A mushroom that turns spiders into ‘zombies’ has been found in Scotland

For decades, the possibility of a zombie apocalypse has been part of pop culture, but with the certainty that it was nearly impossible. This perception, however, changed with 'The Last Of Us', the acclaimed video game that was later turned into a tv series.

Photo: Pexels - Pixabay

In both the video game and its adaptation into the popular HBO series, zombies emerge after being infected by the well-known cordyceps fungus that enters their body and controls their brain, as well as deforming their bodies.

Photo: HBO - The Last Of Us

Now, a fungus from the cordyceps family, which inspired the idea behind the video game, has been found in a forest in Scotland and is said to have the zombie effect on spiders, according to 'The Times'.

Photo: Unsplash - Bjorn Snelders

Known as Gibellula fungus, it has only been documented 10 times in the last 70 years, so its presence in Scottish forests is rare and exceptional.

Photo: Pexels - Pixabay

However, at least for now, the “zombie fungus” only affects spiders and insects, not humans.

Photo: Pexels - Inspired Images

The Gibellula fungus, like the one in 'The Last Of Us', enters the victim's body and devours it from within, using the arachnid's inert body as that of a zombie, in search of new hosts.

Photo: HBO - The Last Of Us

Before proceeding to search for new victims, the fungus produces a foreign body attached to the spider's body, which helps to spread spores to catch other unsuspecting victims.

Photo: Pexels - Pixabay

To reach other spiders, the fungus forces its victim to hide under leaves and thus easily fall on other spiders.

Photo: Unsplash - Krzysztof Niewolny

Whilst parasitic fungi (pictured) are not uncommon in the insect world, what’s different about the Cordyceps is that it makes its prey move against its will before it dies.

Experts have pointed out that the  cordyceps has not evolved enough to be able to control the body of a human or any other mammal for that matter. At lest not yet…

Never miss a story! Click here to follow The Daily Digest.

Photo: HBO - The Last Of Us