Mind-controlling fungus makes zombie cicadas lure other cicadas to a zombie fate

StoneSculptor on Friday, July 31, 2020 – 10:15 am

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(I just like the headline)

https://www.livescience.com/zombie-cicadas-lure-victims.html

Short story: The fungus slowly dissolves the male insect, allowing it time to fly around trippin (acting like a female), spreading more spores. Other males try to mate with it and get infected.

I guess it's better than catching covid.

I found this interesting:

"At least some of the chemical cues responsible for the cicadas' unnatural behavior are psychoactive; one of these is psilocybin, which is also found in hallucinogenic mushrooms, Live Science reported in 2019. But though scientists have identified some of the chemicals in Massospora fungus, the spores' mechanisms for controlling its cicada host have yet to be explained, according to the study.

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Alan R

StoneSculptor on Friday, July 31, 2020 – 10:24 am

that explains the psychedelic

that explains the psychedelic colors

So that's why those wooks were chomping all those cicadas under the trees around Merriweather -- I thought they were after the protein

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MeditateontheQ

LLOLLO on Friday, July 31, 2020 – 12:45 pm

Headline of the year!

Headline of the year! Science topics = interesting reading

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Utahjim

Utahjim on Friday, July 31, 2020 – 03:05 pm

I am noticing them a lot more

I am noticing them a lot more this year than the last couple. Last summer I hardly ever heard them in my hood. This year is crazy, just about every tree is buzzing.

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New & Improved

nedb on Friday, July 31, 2020 – 03:25 pm