Scientists in Europe have discovered a new species of fungus, Gibellula attenboroughii, that turns cave-dwelling spiders into "zombies." The fungus, named after the renowned naturalist Sir David Attenborough, manipulates spiders to leave their webs and move to exposed areas before dying, allowing the fungus to spread its spores more effectively. The discovery, detailed in the journal Fungal Systematics and Evolution, was made during the filming of the BBC Winterwatch series, where the fungus was observed on orb-weaving spiders.

The fungus was first spotted in 2021 by a television crew in an abandoned gunpowder storeroom in Northern Ireland. Since then, researchers have observed infected spiders in various caves in Northern Ireland and Ireland, all positioned in exposed areas.

The fungus acts similarly to the well-known zombie ant fungus, altering the behavior of its host to facilitate spore dispersal. However, the exact mechanism by which G. attenboroughii affects the spiders' brains remains unknown. Study co-author Dr. João Araújo, a mycologist at the Natural History Museum of Denmark, emphasized the uniqueness of this behavior manipulation in the parasitic world, noting that it opens up new research opportunities to understand animal-controlling fungi.

“We know very well the ants, the wasps, and very few other examples. And now this is in a different family, so it’s a new origin of behavior manipulation,” said Araújo. “It’s something really interesting that’s not super common in the parasitic world.”

While the fungus poses no threat to humans, it plays a significant role in the ecosystem by regulating spider populations. Researchers hope to further study this fungus to understand its ecological impact and potential applications in fields like crop protection and medicine.

Simon Conway