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Zombie Cicadas

All articles tagged with #zombie cicadas

natureentomology1 year ago•2 min saved

"STD-Infected 'Zombie' Cicadas: Trillions Set to Emerge Across the U.S."

Periodical cicadas, set to infest the Southeast and Midwest, are known for their exceptional urination abilities and are being ravaged by a sexually transmitted fungus that turns them into "zombie" insects, causing their private parts to fall off. This fungus sterilizes the cicadas and uses them to spread to others, while also having hallucinatory effects on birds that eat them. Additionally, these insects are the strongest urinators in the animal kingdom, with flow rates surpassing those of elephants and humans, and they play a role in rescuing caterpillars.

via Newser|

#entomology #natureentomology #periodical-cicadas

science-and-environment1 year ago•4 min saved

"Millions of Hyper-Sexual 'Zombie Cicadas' Infected with Fungus Set to Emerge Across the U.S."

Trillions of cicadas infected with a sexually transmitted fungus, Massospora cicadina, are expected to emerge in the U.S. this spring, with two broods, Brood XIX and Brood XIII, appearing in Georgia, the Southeast, and Illinois. The fungus causes hyper-sexual behavior in the cicadas, making them engage in unusual mating rituals, and replaces a third of their bodies, including their genitals, with chalky, white plugs. The fungus is sexually transmissible and spreads like an STD, potentially affecting other wildlife. Researchers urge people not to eat or kill the infected cicadas, but to share photos to help study the phenomenon.

via CBS News|

#cicadas #fungus #massospora-cicadina