Zombie Fungus
Dive into this striking infographic that unravels how actual fungal behaviors mirror the fictional infection imagined in The Last of Us. Learn about the real-world fungi that “zombify” insects, their biological mechanisms, and how close science comes to one of television’s most chilling premises. Perfect for fans, science buffs, and curious minds alike.
What are cordyceps?
There are 700+ species of these fungi. The best-known is Ophiocordyceps unilateralis, the "Zombie-ant fungus."
How they work…
Parasitic cordyceps live in tropical environments. They invade a host’s body, consume its nutrients, and fill it with spores. They use chemical attacks to control movement.
Mind Control
Using brain signals, they force the host to climb to a high spot before dying. Then they erupt from the body, releasing spores to infect new hosts.
Can they infect us?
Probably not (thank goodness!) Parasitic fungi typically infect cold-blooded species. Some scientists hypothesize that warm-blooded species may have evolved to avoid this type of parasitism.