A parasite is turning cicadas into mind-controlled ‘sex zombies’
- Researchers have discovered a bizarre fungal parasite that turns cicadas into "sex zombies" to lure others and spread their infection.
- The pathogen prompts cicadas to act as though they are looking for a mate, causing other cicadas to come calling.
- The fungus eats away at the insect's body but the cicada remains active and lively despite its condition.
Whether or not you find their shrill buzzing to be annoying or a pleasant reminder that summer is officially here, cicadas are seasonal visitors that many people are familiar with. What you might not know, however, is that a bizarre mind-controlling fungus is turning some of the insects into what can only be described as "sex zombies."
In a new paper published in PLOS Pathogens, researchers describe the discovery of a fungal parasite that not only takes control of the body and mind of a cicada but actively uses its power to lure other cicadas in with the promise of mating.
Today's Top Deals
- 10 deals you don’t want to miss on Sunday: 3M KN95 face masks, $18 Wi-Fi extender, Lysol spray, $20 webcam, more
- 10 deals you don’t want to miss on Saturday: Lysol spray and wipes, $1 face masks, $20 off Amazon’s #1 mattress topper, more
- Clorox hand sanitizer that’s even stronger than Purell is in stock at Amazon
Trending Right Now:
- An anti-mask cult in Illinois might spread coronavirus across the country
- WHO just gave us the worst possible coronavirus prediction
- Kids might have up to 100x more coronavirus in their bodies than adults
A parasite is turning cicadas into mind-controlled ‘sex zombies’ originally appeared on BGR.com on Sun, 2 Aug 2020 at 10:33:58 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
from BGR https://ift.tt/2EITSdD
About khaled
ليست هناك تعليقات