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A living periodical cicada (Magicicada septendecim) with an abdomen that has been replaced by the fungus Massospora cicadina. Photo courtesy Brian Lovett
A West Virginia University research team led by Matt Kasson, associate professor of forest pathology and mycology, recently uncovered Massospora-infected âZombie Cicadas in West Virginia.
Massospora is a psychedelic manipulative fungus that infects and alters the behavior of cicadas.
Brian Lovett, a postdoctoral researcher for Davis College of Agriculture, Natural Resources and Design, explained how the Massospora species infects cicadas by manipulating the insectsâ mating cycle.
âThis pathogen manipulates the behavior of cicadas such that infected males will attract uninfected males to mate with the fungus: this spreads the fungal infection,â he said. âSince the fungus is manipulating the cicadas, they are considered zombies.â
'Bottomless' Supply of 17-Year Cicadas In Illinois - Chicago, IL - A psychoactive chemical in a fungus causes the insects emerging in Illinois to copulate until their genitals fall off, research shows.
Coming this summer to New Jersey The attack of the sex-crazed zombie cicadas. No it s not a movie, it s real. They re also known as the flying salt shakers of death .
What makes these insects so horny? It turns out that during those 13-17 years they spend underground, they re infected with a fungus called Massospora cicadina, which has chemicals similar to hallucinogenic mushrooms.
This fungus, despite causing their genitals and butts to fall right off, makes them so sex-crazed, according to researchers at West Virginia University, that when they emerge from the ground, they try to mate with everything they come in contact with. Sort of like Pepe Le Pew only these characters aren t cancelled. In fact, they oblivious to what s going on. That s where the zombie part comes in.