Homeowners across the UK are reporting sightings of spiders infected with a fungus that turns them into 'zombies', according to a recent report. The fungus, named Gibellula attenboroughii after naturalist David Attenborough, was first discovered four years ago in an abandoned gunpowder store in Northern Ireland by the crew of the BBC's Winterwatch series.
The fungus infects orb-weaving, cave-dwelling spiders known as Metellina merianae, altering their behaviour to promote spore dispersal. Infected spiders exhibit strange behaviour, such as venturing into open areas to die, leaving them exposed and encrusted with fungus.
Anna Baddams from Southampton found hundreds of these zombie spiders in her shed, saying she 'couldn't sleep for weeks' and keeps her windows closed to prevent them from entering. Landscaper Gareth Jenkins discovered several clumped together under a client's deck in London, with their legs curled up 'as if they were going to jump on my face.'
Despite the alarming appearance, experts confirm the fungus cannot infect humans. Dr. João Araújo, a mycologist, noted that infecting humans would require millions of years of genetic modifications. However, research into the fungus could provide insights into brain health and diseases like Alzheimer's.
