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

TL;DR Summary
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.
- Hyper-sexual 'zombie cicadas' infected with bizarre STD fungus will emerge in US New York Post
- Cicadas incoming: Billions to emerge in double-brood invasion NBC News
- Cicada invasion 2024: Are these insects coming for your plants this spring? Fox News
- Billions of cicadas are set to appear in a rare ‘double brood emergence,’ scientists say CNN
- Maps show where trillions of cicadas will emerge in the U.S. this spring CBS News
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