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It turns out humans aren’t the only creatures that can ride the psychedelic waves created by ingesting fungi.
It is extremely deadly, except for its side effects on cicadas, which are flying pests. What we’re talking about is something similar to the kind of reactions you’d see in “The Walking Dead” or “The Last of Us,” where decrepit creatures fly around, lose body parts, They infect other cicadas they come in contact with with a deadly fungus.
A fungus known in the scientific community as Massospora cicadais a sexually transmitted pathogen that can lead to severe amputations and ultimately death, USA TODAY reported in 2020.
A study published in 2020 by PLOS Pathogens found that the chemicals found in cicadas after infection are similar to those found in hallucinogenic mushrooms.
Chicago’s NBC affiliate reported that the fungus was recently identified in cicada populations. But University of Connecticut entomologist John Cooley confirmed to USA TODAY on Wednesday that this is not the first time.
The same thing happened four years ago, when a “mind control” disease struck a group of cicadas that year, according to a previous report by USA TODAY. Mr Cooley told The Independent that at least 10% of cicadas in the Midwest are infected with the fungus.
The issue is “bizarre than science fiction. This is a sexually transmitted zombie disease,” Cooley said.
Here’s what we know:
Semi overload:For the first time in more than 200 years, two pedigrees are born together in the United States.
What does the “zombification” process look like?
The scene where cicadas and groups of cicadas turn into zombies and white mushrooms accumulate in the gaps is very graphic.
Cooley told The Independent that when the fungus enters the body of a male cicada, the testicles are the first to move, killing the insect before killing it.
The Independent reports that the infected cicadas spread chalky white spores to other cicadas, sharing the sexually transmitted disease agent with the entire population.
How do sexually transmitted pathogens affect cicadas?
Well, it’s not very pretty.
The disease acts like a parasite, feeding on the limbs and other parts of the body of flying insects. Infected cicadas begin to lose their limbs little by little until they have nothing left.
These “zombies” become a threat to all nearby cicadas as soon as the males take off, continuing to spread germs around them, USA TODAY reported.
The fungus causes the wings of infected males to twitch, making the familiar humming sound that only female cicadas make. The noise attracts other males who think there is a female ready to mate.
“This way, they spread the fungus to the attracted males until there are no healthy cicadas left in the colony.”
The fungus is considered a death sentence because it accumulates in the abdomen and destroys the abdomen from the inside out as the fungal spores grow, USA TODAY reported. A press release from West Virginia University said the film “disturbingly exhibits the proportions of a B-horror movie.”
Posted by: Fall Student; America Today
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