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VisitFungus spread to new regions by end of 2024?
Yes • 50%
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Scientific journals or official statements from research institutions
Scientists Track Fungus Turning Periodical Cicadas into Hypersexual 'Zombies' with Amphetamine
Jun 19, 2024, 08:05 PM
Scientists are tracking a super-sized fungus that infects periodical cicadas, turning them into hypersexual 'zombies' under its control. This fungus produces amphetamine in the cicadas, making them hyperactive and aiding the spread of the parasite. The infected cicadas, often referred to as 'sex-crazed zombies on speed,' exhibit unusual behaviors, including bulging red eyes and an alien-like mating sound, due to the fungus's influence. University of Connecticut cicada researcher John Cooley described the cicadas as 'completely at the mercy of the fungus.'
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Bacteria • 25%
Fungi • 25%
Viruses • 25%
Other • 25%
Asia • 25%
Europe • 25%
North America • 25%
Other • 25%
Yes • 50%
No • 50%
North America • 25%
Europe • 25%
Asia • 25%
Other • 25%
Yes • 50%
No • 50%
Africa Only • 25%
Africa and Asia • 25%
Africa, Asia, and Europe • 25%
Global • 25%
Yes • 50%
No • 50%
Enhanced mobility • 25%
Improved sensory response • 25%
Integration with other biological organisms • 25%
Other • 25%
Disruption in mating cycles • 33%
Decline in cicada population • 33%
Spread to other species • 34%
Airborne spores • 33%
Direct contact • 33%
Host-to-host • 34%