Rare Gibellula Fungus Discovered in Scotland

A rare 'zombie fungus' called Gibellula has been discovered in a Scottish rainforest, which behaves similarly to the Cordyceps fungus that inspired the HBO series The Last of Us. Found by amateur naturalist Ben Mitchell during a conservation project, Gibellula infects spiders, consuming them from the inside out while leaving their exoskeleton intact. This fungus compels its hosts to move to the underside of leaves before dying, promoting the spread of its spores to unsuspecting victims. The discovery is notable as Gibellula has only been recorded about ten times in Scotland over the past 70 years. The West Cowal Habitat Restoration Project, where the fungus was found, has documented over 650 species, highlighting the biodiversity in the region. Mitchell emphasized the importance of wildlife recording, noting that such findings underscore the richness of Scotland's temperate rainforest ecosystem.