Uploaded January 2023 | Updated September 2026, 3 weeks ago
This is our collection of insects that have been infected by parasitic fungi. Some people will call a parasitic fungus a "zombie fungus". This is because the fungi can "infect" an insect's body and its mind. Others call them cordyceps, but that's only one genus of parasitic fungi. In this video, you will find a parasitized moth, spider, larvae, caterpillar, and cicada.
This video answers the following questions:
- What is parasitic fungi?
- What is zombie fungus?
- What insects are parasitized by zombie fungus?
- Does fungus kill insects?
- Can fungus control an insect's mind?
Specimen use made possible by the University of Michigan Museum of Zoology and Herbarium.
This is our collection of insects that have been infected by parasitic fungi. Some people will call a parasitic fungus a "zombie fungus". This is because the fungi can "infect" an insect's body and its mind. Others call them cordyceps, but that's only one genus of parasitic fungi. In this video, you will find a parasitized moth, spider, larvae, caterpillar, and cicada.
This video answers the following questions:
- What is parasitic fungi?
- What is zombie fungus?
- What insects are parasitized by zombie fungus?
- Does fungus kill insects?
- Can fungus control an insect's mind?
Specimen use made possible by the University of Michigan Museum of Zoology and Herbarium.
