At a Glance
- Scientists identified Gibellula attenboroughii, a newly discovered fungus that infects cave-dwelling spiders in the British Isles, altering their behavior.
- The fungus was named in honor of renowned naturalist David Attenborough, recognizing his contributions to wildlife broadcasting.
- Infected spiders left their webs and moved to cave walls and ceilings before dying, mirroring the behavior seen in fungi-infected “zombie ants.”
- The fungus manipulates its hosts similarly to Ophiocordyceps species, which control ant behavior by releasing chemicals like dopamine to aid in fungal spore dispersal.
- Historical records suggest Gibellula fungi have long affected spider populations, highlighting the need for further research into their ecological impact.
A newly discovered species of fungus, Gibellula attenboroughii, has been found to infect cave-dwelling spiders in the British Isles, marking an exciting new addition to the Gibellula genus. The discovery was made by a team of scientists, including Dr. Harry Evans from CAB International, during filming for the BBC Winterwatch series in Northern Ireland. The fungus found on the orb-weaving cave spider Metellina merianae causes behavioral changes similar to those seen in “zombie ants,” which are also infected by fungi that manipulate their hosts.
G. attenboroughii was named in honor of Sir David Attenborough, the famous naturalist, and broadcaster who played a key role in developing BBC‘s Natural History Unit. The researchers also identified other related spiders, such as Meta menardi, in Northern Ireland and the Republic of Ireland, further highlighting the spread of this fungal infection. Interestingly, all the infected spiders were found on the ceilings or walls of caves, having left their webs and migrated to exposed areas before dying. This behavior mirrors that of ants infected by fungi, which alter their hosts’ behavior to help the fungus spread its spores.
The team’s investigation into this phenomenon, further detailed in their study available in preprint in Fungal Systematics and Evolution (at the time of writing), revealed that the infected spiders acted like “zombies,” with the fungus driving them to places where the spores could be more easily dispersed. This phenomenon is reminiscent of the so-called “zombie-ant fungi,” which have become famous in pop culture, mainly through books, games, and the television series The Last of Us. The fungi produce specific chemicals, such as dopamine, which manipulate the ants’ behavior, making them easier for the fungus to spread.
Additionally, the researchers used historical herbarium records and literature searches to uncover the broader presence of Gibellula fungi in the British Isles. Evidence of past fungal outbreaks in spider populations from places like Norfolk and Wales suggests that these fungi may play a significant role in the ecology of spider populations. The study calls for further research into how these fungi interact with their spider hosts and the specific ecological niche they occupy.
References
- Evans, H. C., Fogg, T., Buddie, A. G., Yeap, Y. T., & Araújo, J. P. M. (2025). The araneopathogenic genus Gibellula (Cordycipitaceae: Hypocreales) in the British Isles, including a new zombie species on orb-weaving cave spiders (Metainae: tetragnathidae). Fungal Systematics and Evolution. https://doi.org/10.3114/fuse.2025.15.07
- CABI. (2025, January 29). Newly discovered fungal species makes zombies of cave spiders on island of Ireland. Phys.Org; CABI. https://phys.org/news/2025-01-newly-fungal-species-zombies-cave.html
