Breaking News: "Zombie cicadas" infected with mind-controlling fungus return to West Virginia (1 Viewer)

[St. Geezy]

Humans aren't the only ones susceptible to the psychedelic chemicals found in magic mushrooms. "Zombie cicadas" — under the influence of a parasitic fungus — have reemerged in West Virginia to infect their friends, and now scientists have a better understanding of how it happens.


Researchers from West Virginia University recently saw the return of these bizarre creatures, which are infected with a fungus called Massospora. According to a study published in the journal PLOS Pathogens, the fungus manipulates the insects to unknowingly infect other cicadas, rapidly transmitting the disease to create a zombie army of sorts.

When a male cicada is infected with Massospora, researchers found it flicks its wings like a female, a known mating call. This behavior attracts healthy male cicadas, facilitating the spread of the fungus, which contains chemicals including psilocybin, found in hallucinogenic mushrooms.

"Zombie cicadas" infected with mind-controlling fungus return to West Virginia

After more than a decade underground, "zombie cicadas" emerge to "enlist living insects to do their bidding."

www.cbsnews.com

Yeah, I've seen enough for this year.

 

[guidomerkinsrules]

Cool...cool

 

[Charlie Brizzown]

Mother Nature is just forking with us now.

 

[BlackandGoldXLIV]

Massospora is a hoax.

The Democrats are just trying to make Trump look bad.

 

[WhoDatPhan78]

We need to keep the murder hornets away from these cicadas.

 

[play action]

One was clinging to my apt door yesterday morning. Weird critters. This one acted zombie well enough,didnt give it an underbelly inspection to find out for certain however.

 

[Goatman Saint]

How very 2020 of them.

 

[Zardnok]

Who had Zombie Cicadas on their 2020 Gameboard for August??