4 ms·
This is a double-brood year. But also, one of these broods is infected with the Massospora fungus. It's one of those mind-control parasites that makes the males
by whoopdedo 2y ago
This is a double-brood year. But also, one of these broods is infected with the Massospora fungus. It's one of those mind-control parasites that makes the males "hyper-sexual"[1]. The zombie cicadas are driven to mate more aggressively, but their genitals have been replaced with the fungus so all they do is spread spores.
[1] https://www.cbsnews.com/news/cicadas-zombies-hyper-sexual-sexually-transmitted-fungus-expected-to-emerge-this-year-massospora-cicadina/ https://www.cbsnews.com/news/cicadas-zombies-hyper-sexual-se...
- vundercind 2y agoBeing any but a handful of species is basically living in an actual horror movie 100% of the time. Those few, just part-time.
- giantg2 2y agoSo many jokes... must resists. It's interesting though. The spores can be viable for years and it's thought they are transmitted via the soil. So why doesn't this spread to other years or even the annual broods?
- ethbr1 2y ago>> But, he said, less than 5% of cicadas are infected with the fungus and researchers have yet to observe any impact on other wildlife.