ALERT: Terrifying 'zombie' spiders infected with deadly fungus found in Ireland

Spiders effectively turned into zombies by a deadly fungus have been discovered in caves in Ireland, a new CABI study has revealed.

Dr Harry Evans, Emeritus Fellow at CAB International, led scientists – including from the Natural History Museum of Denmark and Royal Botanical Gardens Kew – in a study to investigate the identity of a fungus found on a spider during filming of the BBC Winterwatch series in Northern Ireland.

The fungus Gibellula attenboroughii was named after the broadcaster and natural historian Sir David Attenborough, who helped to develop the Natural History Unit at the BBC; leading, indirectly, to the present nature series during which the new species was first discovered.

During filming of the show in 2021, an orb-weaving cave spider known as Metellina merianae was found covered in a fungus substance on the ceiling of a gunpowder store at Castle Espie in Co Down. The discovery prompted the study that found further examples of the 'zombie spiders' covered in the same fungus in caves between Cavan and Fermanagh.

All the infected spiders were positioned on the roof or walls of the caves, which was unusual given the fact that these spiders are reclusive. It was shown that the fungus itself affected the dopamine in the spiders' brains and made them move from their lairs or webs to die in the open and therefore infect other bugs. 

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"Such manipulation of the host in order to favour dispersal of the fungal spores engendered the description of ‘zombie-ant fungi’ and led to the publication of a number of zombie-fungus themed books, as well as to a popular video game and the television series, The Last of Us," the CABI researchers said.

The Last of Us show take place in a post-apocalyptic world overrun by fungus-infected zombie humans. The fungus found is n this case only affects insects and not humans.