Entomopathogenic Fungi: The inspiration behind the Last of Us
The “Zombie fungus” genus Cordyceps has done a lot for the PR of entomopathogenic fungi. Not your average friendly mushroom, Cordyceps and similar groups are parasites and eventual killers of insects and other invertebrates. Cordyceps rose to fame when stories of it hijacking insects and turning them into fungus zombies went viral, and then again when it inspired the infected in the hit games and TV show The Last of Us. What’s even more incredible is the diversity of these entomopathogenic fungi - something I’ve set out to document in the local rainforests and bushland. In the process, I’ve uncovered a crazy world of balls on spikes, fluffy killer snow and deadly flower-heads. Here is a selection of these silent assassins.
