A fungus infection that rips them apart but keeps them from mating has made some cicadas in the eastern and southern United States into sex-crazed "zombies."
The fungus Massospora cicadina is most likely responsible for the peculiar behavior of cicadas from Broods XIII and XIX.
(Photo: Getty Images/ Chip Somodevilla)
Zombie Behavior Caused by Fungi
Massospora cicadina has been found in cicadas from many states. To make it easy to spot, the fungus that turns the cicada's back end into a "chalky white gum drop." Matt Kasson, a professor at West Virginia University, says that the fungus keeps the cicada able to breathe and move even after it replaces a third of its body with fungus.
We are now over 50 observations of Massospora cicadina in @inaturalist for the 2024 dual emergence of Brood XIX and XIII periodical cicadas! This includes confirmed observations in AL, GA, MS, NC, SC, and TN! If you are one of those observers and would like to share specimens… pic.twitter.com/osZlofCdB6
— Matt Kasson, PhD 🍄🧫 (@ImperfectFunGuy) May 13, 2024
The fungus helps its spores grow by making cicadas reproduce repeatedly. To attract more male cicadas, the fungus is spread by males that look like females.
Cicadas that try to mate but fail to send out germs, which spread the disease. They are called "flying salt shakers of death" because of this.
"Stage I" cicadas start the infection process by passing on the disease to other cicadas of the same generation. Caidas in "Stage II" send germs into the ground, infecting the nymphs that will come up 13 to 17 years later. Even though the sickness is terrifying, Kasson says that cicadas that have it probably don't know they have it because the fungus makes a stimulant called cathinone.
What Will Happen and What the Future Holds for Infected Cicadas
The fungus is scary, but it doesn't threaten people or animals. Scientists at the Field Museum say touching infected specimens is safe because the fungus is only found on cicadas. However, it would help if you still wash your hands afterward. Kasson's research shows that the infection rate is usually low, at about 5%, but it can reach 20-30% in some places.
Researchers are still investigating the effects and spread of Massospora cicadina. Kasson's team will collect more data on 17-year-old cicadas to learn more about 13-year-old groups. Understanding how changes in infection rates affect cicada broods is crucial, especially as habitats are being destroyed and the temperature changes.
Experts like Jim Louderman of the Field Museum say that a zombie apocalypse based on cicadas is not likely, even though the effects on cicadas are scary. The bacteria can't spread from people to other animals. This infection wave will soon end because cicadas only live a short time above ground. However, the fungus will still be in the soil and ready to attack new generations.
Kasson tells people who see hurt cicadas to look at these bugs more closely, whether they find it scary or exciting. The strange behavior of the Massospora cicada is an excellent example of how organisms are related in ecosystems in complicated and sometimes weird ways.
Looking at these infected cicadas can teach us more about nature's complex connections and dependence. Scientists hope to learn more about this exciting and upsetting fungal disease as their research continues. This will help us understand how the cicadas and the parasitic fungus that attacks them interact.
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