ZOMBIE FUNGUS THREAT

Spiders' bodies taken over by spores

- DAN VEVERS

A "ZOMBIE fungus" like that found on hit HBO show The Last of Us has been discovered taking over the bodies of spiders in a Scottish rainforest.

The gibellula fungus, found in forests in West Cowal, Argyll, eats its spider victims from the inside out leaving the exoskeleton whole. A fruiting body then erupts to spread spores and claim its next victim.

It is a type of cordycipitaceae and part of the same family as the cordyceps fungus in video game and TV series The Last of Us, starring Pedro Pascal and Bella Ramsey.

It was uncovered as part of a community conservation scheme.