New species of fungi is turning Irish cave spiders into ‘zombies’ 

Discovered on David Attenborough's 'Winterwatch', Gibellula attenboroughii, centre, is a fungus that takes control of Irish orb-weaving cave spiders to help distribute their fungal spores. Picture: Tim Fogg

A new species of fungi which infects spiders and turns them into The Last of Us-style “zombies” has been discovered in Irish caves.

The newly-described fungus has drawn “normally reclusive” spiders out of their lairs or webs to die in exposed locations in White Fathers Cave, which lies beneath counties Cavan and Fermanagh.

White Fathers Cave, which lies beneath counties Cavan and Fermanagh in Ireland, where spiders are being zombified by the Gibellula attenboroughii fungus. Picture: Tom Fogg

The new species, scientifically known as Gibellula attenboroughii, has been named after renowned biologist David Attenborough, after it was first discovered on the broadcaster’s BBC series Winterwatch back in 2021.

Following the programme, a team of researchers, led by Harry Evans from the Centre for Agriculture and Biosciences International, launched a study in order to investigate the identity of the fungi.

The new fungus Gibellula attenboroughii taking control of an orb-weaving cave spider in caves under Cavan and Fermanagh. Pictures: Centre for Agriculture and Biosciences International

Mr Evans’s team — which also included scientists from the Natural History Museum of Denmark and the Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew, in London — were able to identify the host spider as an orb-weaving cave spider, also known as Metellina merianae.

Harry Evans’s agar plate preparation as part of the analysis to confirm Gibellula attenboroughii as a new fungal species. Picture: CABI

Metellina merianea are found across Europe in dark and damp habitats. They can vary in pattern and colour.

However, during the course of the study, the new fungus was also discovered on a related spider, Meta menardi, which occupies different “ecological niches” within the caves.

The zombie fungus Gibellula attenboroughii is named after David Attenborough, after it was first brought to light on his 'Winterwatch' series in 2021. Picture: BBC

All of the infected spiders were found positioned on the roof or on the walls of the caves, and this indicates a behavioural change in the spiders, because they normally dwell in concealed areas.

This shows that the Gibellula attenboroughii, manipulated the spiders by producing behaviour-changing metabolites like dopamine, which in turn led to the spiders favouring the dispersal of fungal spores, over their own lives.

All of the spiders infected by this fungus were found on the roof or on the walls of the Irish caves — a behavioural change in the spiders which normally live in concealed areas. Picture: CABI

This behaviour mirrors that of ants infected by fungi of the genus Ophiocordyceps, which was previously reported in the Atlantic rainforest of Brazil.

In this case, the ants were controlled by the fungi and lured to die in places ideal for spreading fungal spores.

This manipulation of the host in order to favour dispersal of fungal spores, gave rise to the term “zombie-ant fungi.” 

White Fathers Cave in Cavan and Fermanagh in Ireland, where spiders are being zombified by the Gibellula attenboroughii fungus. Picture: Tom Fogg

And from this, several zombie-fungus themed books, as well as the popular video game and post-apocalyptic TV series, The Last of Us, were born.

The HBO series, which stars Pedro Pascal and Bella Ramsey, won eight Emmy Awards and two SAG awards last year.

The discovery of fungi that take control of ants and spiders inspired a genre of zombie fiction including 'The Last of Us' video game and HBO series. 

The scientists concluded that the role of Gibellula attenboroughii “in spider-population dynamics warrants further study, as does the metabolites they produce which enable them to exploit such a highly specific ecological niche”.

The results of the study were published in the journal Fungal Systematics and Evolution.