Sciencenature News

"Trillions of Hyper-sexual 'Zombie Cicadas' Infected with STD Fungus to Invade US in Rare Double-Brood Emergence"

A sexually transmitted fungus called Massospora cicadina is expected to infect millions of cicadas in the US, causing them to exhibit hyper-sexual behavior and spread the infection as they emerge from the ground. The fungus takes over the insects' bodies, causing their genitals to fall off and making males pose as females to pass on the infection through sex. While less than 5% of the trillion cicadas expected to emerge will likely be infected, scientists are concerned about the potential impact on other wildlife that consume the infected bugs.