A Fungus Is Pushing Cicada Sex Into Hyperdrive And Leaving Them Dismembered

[Nevilledog]

Last edited Wed May 19, 2021, 03:02 PM - Edit history (1)

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Tweet text:
Christopher Mims
@mims
A sexually-transmissible fungus that turns cicadas into hyper/pan-sexual zombie super-spreaders, and makes their butts fall off, is playing havoc with millions of the insects as they emerge to mate and die

A Fungus Is Pushing Cicada Sex Into Hyperdrive And Leaving Them Dismembered
A fungus called Massospora produces an amphetamine in some cicadas and makes them lose control. Cicadas that are infected lose their genitals — and they don't even notice.
npr.org
10:42 AM · May 19, 2021

https://www.npr.org/2021/05/18/997998920/the-fungus-thats-making-cicadas-sex-crazy

After 17 years underground, the Brood X periodical cicadas are slowly emerging in 15 states across the East Coast and Midwest.

They'll shed their skins and spend four to six weeks mating before the females lay eggs and they all die.

But some of them are getting wilder in their short lives above ground.

A fungus called Massospora, which can produce compounds of cathinone — an amphetamine — infects a small number of them and makes them lose control.

The fungus takes over their bodies, causing them to lose their lower abdomen and genitals. And it pushes their mating into hyperdrive.

*snip*

[maxsolomon]

1. Oh well.

Since there are trillions, losing millions to a fungus isn't going to create a world without Brood X.

[pansypoo53219]

2. bug VD. w/ pics.

[Scrivener7]

3. Why do I fear that someone will try to package this

fungus and sell it to people?

Spanish Fly on PCP.

[Ms. Toad]

4. Probably not a good year to test out those cicada recipes n/t

[albacore]

5. A good buddy of mine in the Marine Corps...

..had something very similar happen to him after a really epic Liberty in Olongapo, Philippines in the med 1960's.

[I_UndergroundPanther]

7. Republicans who Gail to keep it in their pants

like matt Gaetz seem to be infected with this fungus...

[Solly Mack]

8. That doesn't sound good.