Scientists recently uncovered a new species of fungus that turns spiders into "zombies," manipulating their behavior before ultimately killing them. The fungus, named Gibellula attenboroughii in honor of renowned naturalist Sir David Attenborough,

A fungus named in honor of Sir David Attenborough is warping the bodies and even minds of spiders in Ireland. Researchers found that many Metellina merianae spiders across Ireland have become infected with the Gibellula attenboroughii fungi named after broadcasting legend David Attenborough.

A fungus named in honour of Sir David Attenborough has been found infecting and manipulating spiders in a Northern Ireland cave turning them into The Last of Us -style “ zombies ”.

Dr Harry Evans, Emeritus Fellow at CAB International, led scientists – including from the Natural History Museum of Denmark and Royal Botanical Gardens Kew – in a study to investigate the identity of a fungus found on a spider during filming of the BBC Winterwatch series in Northern Ireland.

It was found to display the creepy properties seen in zombie-ant fungi, insect-pathogenic fungi that infect and manipulate the behavior of ants.

A new species of fungus discovered in British and Irish caves turns spiders into “zombies,” forcing them to leave their hiding spots and move into the open before killing them. Named after famed naturalist Sir David Attenborough,