Scientists have discovered a new species of fungus, Gibellula attenboroughii, which has the ability to take control of a spider’s mind and cause unusual behavior. This fungus infects the spider, leading the host to abandon its web and die in open areas, allowing the spread of the fungus’s spores. The phenomenon was observed during the filming of a BBC series in the Castle Espie reserve in Ireland. Gibellula attenboroughii is similar to parasitic fungi of the genus Ophiocordyceps, which control ants.
A new fungus controls spiders, named after David Attenborough.
