When scientist Alexander Bentley encountered a spider covered in what seemed to be a deadly parasitic fungus during a group tour in August 2025, he was surprised to find the spider still alive beneath it. Bentley, a herpetologist based in Ecuador, is familiar with cordyceps, a parasitic fungus known for its appearance in the post-apocalyptic franchise “The Last of Us.”
Cordyceps, often referred to as “zombie fungus,” infects and manipulates insects and arachnids, making them behave like zombies to spread spores, as described by the National Library of Medicine. This particular spider had developed tubercle-like structures on its abdomen, typically a sign of successful cordyceps infection.
Initially mistaking the spider for a cordyceps-infected specimen, Bentley soon realized it was an entirely new spider species that mimics fungi like cordyceps, possibly for hunting or defense purposes. The discovery, detailed in Zootaxa, has sparked excitement among scientists, although some remain skeptical about the spider’s resemblance to the fungus.
Seeking confirmation of the new species, Bentley enlisted the help of his colleague David Ricardo Díaz-Guevara, an arachnid curator. Through meticulous morphological analyses, they identified the spider as a new species named Taczanowskia waska.
Experts speculate that the spider’s fungus-like appearance could serve as an aggressive hunting tactic or a defense mechanism against predators. While the purpose of this mimicry remains uncertain, researchers like Monika Fischer from the University of British Columbia appreciate the significance of citizen science platforms like iNaturalist in making such discoveries.
The spider’s unique features have intrigued biologists like Andrew Swafford, who suggests that further research is needed to understand the function of its elaborate abdominal structures. If confirmed as a mimicry of late-stage cordyceps, this spider would be a groundbreaking find in the realm of arachnids and insects.
Bentley considers this discovery of the Taczanowskia waska spider as one of the most extraordinary encounters in his rainforest explorations, highlighting its rarity and uniqueness among the species he has encountered.
