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Spider Pathogen - Gibellula sp. This fungus infects spiders when fungal spores land on the unfortunate victim. The spores germinate and penetrate through the exoskeleton, after which it grows inside the spider&#039;s body. It continues growing until it has digested the entire spider. After consuming the entire contents of the spider&#039;s insides, the fungus sporulates by erupting from the cadaver and forms synnemata (the projections). And, the cycle begins again with the next unlucky spider.<br />
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Habitat: Stuck to a leaf in a mixed forest.<br />
<figure class="photo"><a href="https://www.jungledragon.com/image/90845/spider_pathogen_-_gibellula_sp.html" title="Spider Pathogen - Gibellula sp."><img src="https://s3.amazonaws.com/media.jungledragon.com/images/3232/90845_thumb.jpg?AWSAccessKeyId=05GMT0V3GWVNE7GGM1R2&Expires=1759968010&Signature=pTHRMIW3VOYBOCxQqnZXRh7kJHA%3D" width="200" height="158" alt="Spider Pathogen - Gibellula sp. This fungus infects spiders when fungal spores land on the unfortunate victim. The spores germinate and penetrate through the exoskeleton, after which it grows inside the spider&#039;s body. It continues growing until it has digested the entire spider. After consuming the entire contents of the spider&#039;s insides, the fungus sporulates by erupting from the cadaver and forms synnemata (the projections). And, the cycle begins again with the next unlucky spider.<br />
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Habitat: Stuck to a leaf in a mixed forest.<br />
<br />
https://www.jungledragon.com/image/90821/spider_pathogen_-_gibellula_sp.html Geotagged,Summer,United States" /></a></figure> Geotagged,Gibellula,Summer,United States,spider,spider pathogen Click/tap to enlarge Promoted

Spider Pathogen - Gibellula sp.

This fungus infects spiders when fungal spores land on the unfortunate victim. The spores germinate and penetrate through the exoskeleton, after which it grows inside the spider's body. It continues growing until it has digested the entire spider. After consuming the entire contents of the spider's insides, the fungus sporulates by erupting from the cadaver and forms synnemata (the projections). And, the cycle begins again with the next unlucky spider.

Habitat: Stuck to a leaf in a mixed forest.

Spider Pathogen - Gibellula sp. This fungus infects spiders when fungal spores land on the unfortunate victim. The spores germinate and penetrate through the exoskeleton, after which it grows inside the spider's body. It continues growing until it has digested the entire spider. After consuming the entire contents of the spider's insides, the fungus sporulates by erupting from the cadaver and forms synnemata (the projections). And, the cycle begins again with the next unlucky spider.<br />
<br />
Habitat: Stuck to a leaf in a mixed forest.<br />
<br />
https://www.jungledragon.com/image/90821/spider_pathogen_-_gibellula_sp.html Geotagged,Summer,United States

    comments (10)

  1. Very interesting, but gross! Well spotted! Posted 5 years ago
    1. Hehe, thanks! Posted 5 years ago
  2. Very nice! Posted 5 years ago
    1. Thanks! Posted 5 years ago
  3. Awesome find! Was it on the underside of the leaf? How high was the leaf? Posted 5 years ago
    1. Thanks! It was sort of on the underside of the leaf...the leaf was rolled and so the spider was technically stuck to the underside. I only found it because I noticed the rolled leaf and wanted to see if there was an insect hiding inside. The insect was gone, but I found this spider instead and was pretty excited! Posted 5 years ago
      1. It's an exciting find for sure! I was wondering about the height because of this supposed strategy of maximizing the "explosion" spread. Posted 5 years ago
        1. Oh....height would have been eye level or lower, so no higher than 5 feet (or 1.53ish m). Posted 5 years ago, modified 5 years ago
  4. Well that caused a good read. Thanks. Posted 5 years ago
    1. Haha, thanks and you're welcome ;P Posted 5 years ago

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By Christine Young

All rights reserved
Uploaded Mar 9, 2020. Captured Sep 13, 2019 11:55 in 281 Main St S, Woodbury, CT 06798, USA.
  • Canon EOS 80D
  • f/6.3
  • 1/64s
  • ISO400
  • 100mm