Tarantulas are already among the creepiest spiders, but encountering a zombie tarantula is a whole new level of horror. A chilling video circulating online features a tarantula infected by a zombie fungus, known as Ophiocordyceps unilateralis or cordyceps. This fungus typically targets insects like ants and spiders. The video, shared by wildlife researcher Chris Ketola from the Peruvian Amazon, captures the unsettling sight of the tarantula lying motionless with the fungus growing from its body.
In the video, Ketola provides a close-up view and explains how the zombie fungus, which inspired the hit TV show and video game “The Last of Us,” has taken over the tarantula’s nervous system, leading to its death. He notes that the spider was attacked by a particularly rare species of cordyceps. “It is a horrific yet incredible find,” he remarks.
Ketola’s caption offers additional details about the fungus, stating, “Cordyceps is a genus of fungi that primarily attacks invertebrates, slowly consuming their bodies while taking control of their nervous systems. The so-called ‘zombie fungus’ has gained fame due to the popular video game and TV show @thelastofus. This particular species infects tarantulas and is quite rare; this is only the third time I’ve seen a tarantula infected by Cordyceps!”
The video has gone viral, amassing over 20 million views on Instagram, and has elicited a range of reactions from viewers. One user wrote, “Yeah OK, PATIENT 0 PLEASE STEP AWAY FROM THE CORDYCEPS,” while another commented, “Please back away from the Cordyceps. This timeline is already too much for me.” Another user remarked, “That’s fascinating. Cordyceps fungi have such a unique way of interacting with tarantulas. It’s intriguing how nature works in such complex ways.”
One user humorously questioned, “So…you just lay there…in a t-shirt in the wet plant debris…you shower well when you get home??”
Some users debated why this zombie fungus would not infect humans, contrasting it with how “The Last of Us” depicts a hypothetical scenario of such parasites jumping from insects to humans.