Scientists have discovered a new population of cicadas that have been infected with a mind-controlling fungus that forces them to try to mate and spread the contagion.
The “zombie” cicadas, as they’ve been dubbed, were discovered in June and found to be infected by the psychedelic fungus Massospora cicadina.
In what West Virginia University described in its press release on the study as “a disturbing display of B-horror movie proportions,” the fungus begins by eating away at the genitals, rear, and abdomen of the insects, leaving fungal spores in place of the lower third of their bodies. The findings were published in the journal PLOS Pathogens.
Brian Lovett, a co-author of the study, described the decimation of the cicadas’ bodies as being worn away “like an eraser on a pencil.”
Despite the lack of part of their bodies, the fungus keeps the cicadas moving and acting in strange ways in an effort to spread the spores to more bugs. In addition to spreading the psychedelic fungus through contact with surfaces, the fungus also uses sex to transmit the spores to unsuspecting healthy cicadas.
“If one of our limbs were taken out or if our stomach was slashed open, we would probably be incapacitated,” study co-author Matthew Kasson told CNN. “But infected cicadas, despite the fact that a third of their body has fallen off, continue to go about their activities like mating and flying as if nothing happened. This is really, really unique for insect-killing fungi.”
The scientists discovered that the male cicadas are also flicking their wings like female cicadas do in a mating invitation. When other male cicadas try to mate with them, they also fall prey to the fungus that has consumed their partner’s abdomen and genitals.
Researchers at West Virginia University have been tracking the strange behavior of so-called “zombie cicadas.” https://t.co/NwD2fSiNq6 pic.twitter.com/hhJOjH29yM
— CNN (@CNN) August 3, 2020
“Essentially, the cicadas are luring others into becoming infected because their healthy counterparts are interested in mating,” Lovett said. “The bioactive compounds may manipulate the insect to stay awake and continue to transmit the pathogen for longer.”
Cicadas are known for their strange reproductive cycle, which includes spending years underground before crawling to the surface in groups, called broods, to spend a month mating and laying eggs before they die. There are a dozen different 17-year broods and three broods that hatch every 13 years.
Millions of the creatures emerged this summer after spending 17 years beneath the soil of northwestern North Carolina, southwestern Virginia, and southeastern West Virginia. Lovett said that despite the fungus, the insects are generally harmless to humans.
“They’re very docile,” Lovett said. “You can walk right up to one, pick it up to see if it has the fungus (a white to yellowish plug on its back end), and set it back down. They’re not a major pest in any way. They’re just a really interesting, quirky insect that’s developed a bizarre lifestyle.”
