Spider Mimics Zombie Fungus to Trick Predators and Prey

Spiders are often rightly hailed as the masters of camouflage. While some are known for disguising themselves as insects, a species new to science perfectly imitates a formidable fungal parasite.

Taczanowskia waska

Evidence of the effectiveness of such a ruse, scientists initially thought the specimen they were observing, suspended beneath a leaf and perfectly motionless, had fallen victim to Gibellula, a genus of pathogenic fungi closely related to the famous Cordyceps, at the heart of the plot of The Last of Us.

Infiltrating its host through its mycelium (a network of root-like filaments), the zombie fungus gradually grows inside its tissues. At a certain stage, the spider develops small antenna-like structures, which then release spores capable of infecting its peers.

Named Taczanowskia waska, the new species thrives in the tropical forests of Ecuador. It is believed that its clever disguise helps it fool both predators and prey alike.

“The pale coloration of the abdomen, speckled with small white spines, perfectly mimics the fungus’ mycelium,” write the authors of the new study, published in the journal Zootaxa. “Its two yellowish, cottony-coated tubercles are also closely similar to the stromata [the famous antennae mentioned above] of Gibellula.”

Citizen science and international collaboration

According to the team, the arachnid was initially photographed by a member of the online platform iNaturalist. A handful of individuals were subsequently collected and compared with specimens from museum collections around the world. A close match was established with an arachnid collected in Bolivia in 1903 and preserved in Germany.

The observation of similar traits suggests that at least four other spider species, two of which are new to science, mimic fungal infections with a striking level of detail.

Previously, researchers had noted that certain Cyclosa spiders create “giant scarecrows,” helping them dodge an otherwise undesirable fate.