As periodical cicadas emerge from the ground across the eastern U.S., some might be infected by a bizarre parasitic fungus that hijacks the brains of the insects, manipulating them so that they try ...

A newly discovered species of spider in the Ecuadorean Amazon mimics a pathogen, known as a zombie fungus, to protect itself.

The Cordyceps fungus has evolved a terrifying ability to hijack the bodies of insects – but it's also being studied for an impressive range of potential medicinal effects. Researchers have found a way ...

Freelance writer Amanda C. Kooser covers gadgets and tech news with a twist for CNET. When not wallowing in weird gear and iPad apps for cats, she can be found tinkering with her 1956 DeSoto.

A fossilized ant and fly preserved in 99-million-year-old amber have revealed one of the oldest known examples of parasitic fungi taking over insect hosts. The fungal growths, protruding from the ...

A new study from Kiel University shows how the massive exchange of mobile genetic elements between fungi can impair their ...

The larvae feed on plant remains in the soil and on the fungal cells that break them down. It takes them more than 20 days to ...

In the video game and HBO show The Last of Us, humans struggle to survive after an infectious fungus turns ordinary people into zombies. Creators of the franchise didn’t look far for inspiration — the ...

Many plants and crops rely on insects to pollinate them so they can reproduce. A new study has shown that several flowering plants from the group Euonymus are pollinated by fungus gnats, a dipteran ...

We may receive a commission on purchases made from links. Gnats are some of the most annoying flying insects, buzzing around in your face no matter how often you swat them away. And, there are several ...

This story is free to read because readers choose to support LAist. If you find value in independent local reporting, make a donation to power our newsroom today. In the video game and HBO show The ...