Parasitic zombie-ant fungus thrives in mosses, too
A new study published in IMA Fungus reveals that Cordyceps fungi, known for infecting insects, also inhabit mosses. This discovery suggests the fungus may use moss as a secondary host to survive periods when insect populations are scarce.
Why it matters
Understanding the complex life cycles of parasitic fungi provides deeper insight into evolutionary biology and the ecological strategies pathogens use to persist in the environment.
nightmare fuel Parasitic zombie-ant fungus thrives in mosses, too This may help fungi survive host scarcity and explains why infected hosts prefer the mosses as death sites.
20 Credit: Tales Alves-Júnior et al., 2026 Credit: Tales Alves-Júnior et al., 2026 Text settings Story text Size Small Standard Large Width * Standard Wide Links Standard Orange * Subscribers only Learn more Minimize to nav The parasitic fungi in the Cordyceps genus are a favorite subject of nature documentaries. They’ve also infiltrated popular culture via the zombie-apocalypse video game The Last of Us (2013) and its TV adaptation , in which a parasitic fungus mutates to infect humans. Scientists are keen to study Cordyceps to learn more about the origins and intricate mechanisms underlying these pathogen-based diseases.
Get smarter about the news
Sign up free for a feed built around what you actually care about, Dive Deeper research on any story, and the full text of every article.
Create free accountAlready have an account? Sign in