Return of the zombie cicadas: Manipulative qualities of fungal-infected flyers
Summary
Cicadas contaminated with the parasitic fungus Massospora unknowingly interact in trickery with their fellow bugs, leading to efficient illness transmission, based on new analysis. Massospora manipulates male cicadas into flicking their wings like females – a mating invitation – which […]
Cicadas contaminated with the parasitic fungus Massospora unknowingly interact in trickery with their fellow bugs, leading to efficient illness transmission, based on new analysis. Massospora manipulates male cicadas into flicking their wings like females – a mating invitation – which tempts unsuspecting male cicadas and infects them.