Natures wonders: fungus controls cicada activity (Introduction)

by David Turell , Tuesday, August 04, 2020, 21:56 (1358 days ago) @ David Turell

Another example found:

https://www.iheart.com/content/2020-08-04-zombie-cicadas-discovered-in-west-virginia/?m...

"Researchers in West Virginia have discovered that cicadas have been infected by a parasitic fungus that takes over their brains. The Massospora fungus contains similar chemicals to hallucinogenic mushrooms and controls the cicadas as it eats away at their bodies.

"The infected insects will continue to act normal, even as the fungus eats away at their genitals, abdomen, and limbs. As they fly around, they spread the fungus, acting like "flying salt shakers of death." In some cases, male cicadas will flap their wings, mimicking the females' mating call. When an unsuspecting male flies over, it becomes infected with the parasitic fungus.

"'When these pathogens infect cicadas, it's very clear that the pathogen is pulling the behavioral levers of the cicada to cause it to do things which are not in the interest of the cicada but is very much in the interest of the pathogen,"

"'When these pathogens infect cicadas, it's very clear that the pathogen is pulling the behavioral levers of the cicada to cause it to do things which are not in the interest of the cicada but is very much in the interest of the pathogen,'"

Comment: we have had other examples using cicadas and ants in the past. These are best explained as part of econiches and I think the parasitism is a design by God.