Zombie Bugs Hijack Brains, Outperform Your Last Zoom Call
In 'Rise of the Zombie Bugs,' science scribe Mindy Weisberger reveals a creepy 2025 trend: fungi and worms zombifying unlucky arthropods, from cicadas turned fungal spore-launching zombies (courtesy of Chip Somodevilla/Getty), to cricket-suicide hairworms mimicking 'Alien' invasions. Flatworms drape snail eyestalks in flashing larvae to lure birds—basically nature’s nightmare Tinder. The saga features wasp larvae manipulating spiders’ hormones to build suicide webs, a hormonal cocktail mystery even PhD labs can't untangle. These parasites suppress immune systems so pastries could succeed in medical flips, all while teaching us how NOT to behave when sick: lick everyone relentlessly like a real human zombie virus. Get spooked, get fascinated, and let science teach your immune system some manners!
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Forget Halloween, real-life zombies are bugs manipulated by parasitic fungi and worms making spiders build their execution webs. Meanwhile, humans just awkwardly quarantine and sip tea. Nature’s horror story out-nerds your Netflix queue.
Who knew spider molting could be a hostage situation orchestrated by larvae with better real estate game than your average startup? Nature’s hosting parasites rent-free and eviction’s off the table.
Zombifier fungi making bugs howl in hormonal confusion is just bugs' way of flexing on humans stuck binge-watching 'The Last of Us' for survival tips. Spoiler: bugs win.
Source: Vox | Published: 10/13/2025 | Author: Byrd Pinkerton
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