Return of the zombie cicadas: WVU team unearths manipulative qualities of fungal-infected flyers

WVUToday ^ | July 27, 2020 | Staff

[yesthatjallen]

Cicadas infected with the parasitic fungus Massospora unknowingly engage in trickery with their fellow insects, resulting in effective disease transmission, according to West Virginia University-led research.

Massospora manipulates male cicadas into flicking their wings like females – a mating invitation – which tempts unsuspecting male cicadas and infects them.

It’s a recent discovery into the bizarre world of cicadas plagued by a psychedelic fungus that contains chemicals including those found in hallucinogenic mushrooms. The research, “Behavioral betrayal: How select fungal parasites enlist living insects to do their bidding,” was published in the journal PLOS Pathogens.

“Essentially, the cicadas are luring others into becoming infected because their healthy counterparts are interested in mating,” said Brian Lovett, study co-author and post-doctoral researcher with the Davis College of Agriculture, Natural Resources and Design. “The bioactive compounds may manipulate the insect to stay awake and continue to transmit the pathogen for longer.”

These actions persist amid a disturbing display of B-horror movie proportions: Massospora spores gnaw away at a cicada’s genitals, butt and abdomen, replacing them with fungal spores. Then they “wear away like an eraser on a pencil,” Lovett said.

Lovett compared the transmission of the behavior-modifying virus to rabies.

SNIP

[lastchance]

I gotta tell you, a bit of a let down after all the hoopla on “Killer Hornets”. I fear we may be just settling.

[tet68]

So kids, remember to only eat the infected Cicadas
if you want to get high.

[BenLurkin]

Murder Hornet versus the Zombie Cicadas.

[null and void]

Murder Hornet versus the Zombie Cicadas.

A SyFy original movie!

[a fool in paradise]

Is There A Ping List For This PING

[chrisser]

Massospora spores gnaw away at a cicada’s genitals, butt and abdomen, replacing them with fungal spores.

I know they're just bugs, but that's a heckuva way to go, and that's not even counting what happens after you've tricked your non-infected bug bros to think you're a female ready to mate...

[Buckeye McFrog]

Murder Hornet versus the Zombie Cicadas. A SyFy original movie!

Count Floyd is envious!

[E. Pluribus Unum]

Cicadas are GREAT bass bait.

[sickoflibs]

WE got Cicadas here about 15 years ago.

Is there any reason why we need them.

Glad the stink bugs finally got killed off, they really were a nuisance.

[libertylover]

Massospora manipulates male cicadas into flicking their wings like females – a mating invitation – which tempts unsuspecting male cicadas and infects them.

Sounds like he's using the AIDS model.

[Bethaneidh]

I have cultivated fence lizards, which eat, guess what.

[yesthatjallen]

Cicadas are GREAT bass bait.

Knowing they can be infected by this parasite I personally wouldn't use them as bait.

[E. Pluribus Unum]

Are you a Cicada?

[null and void]

Is There A Ping List For This PING

Closest I've got is a Sharknado ping list.

[kickstart]

Seems similar to transgenders and homosexuals with aids.