Nature
Cordyceps fungus found in Scotland that can turn spiders into zombies like in ‘The Last of Us
This specimen inspired Naughty Dog’s saga, although it does not attack humans.
Naughty Dog was inspired by the Cordyceps fungus to create The Last of Us, one of the most popular PlayStation video games, which has now been successfully adapted for television by HBO. In this title, one of these strains has infected humans, something that fortunately does not happen in the real world, or at least does not turn them into monsters without a conscience. In this post-apocalyptic United States, humanity has succumbed and the survivors live in anarchy. According to The Times, a similar fungus has been found in a forest in Scotland, although in this case it infects spiders rather than humans.
This is what the Gibellula fungus does to spiders
It is known as the Gibellula fungus and has only been documented 10 times in Scotland in the last 70 years, making it incredibly rare. This fungus infects the victim and consumes the spider from within. Before expelling new spores to seek new hosts, the arachnid behaves like a zombie: “It’s part of a group of fungi that are known for turning their victims into ‘zombies’, compelling them to act in a certain way before killing them,” explains Ben Mitchell, an amateur naturalist.
“Gibellula seems to make spiders move to the underside of leaves, before sticking them there. It’s maybe so that when they fruit, the spores are protected from the rain and can drop on to other unsuspecting spiders more easily. It’s a bit grim, but it’s all part of the remarkable natural world.”
Of course, scientists have been studying codryceps, and no, they haven’t evolved to the point where they can control the minds of humans and other mammals, so we’re safe for now.
The Last of Us Part I and The Last of Us Part II Remastered are now available for PS5 and PC. The second season of the series will be released in the first half of 2025, without a more concrete date.