T H E E N D C O M M U N E

  About the Tarantula & the Cordyceps

Tarantulas might be infected with the parasitic fungus known as cordyceps. The fungus invades the body of the host, and replaces all the tissue with its own. After the animal is dead, cordyceps will literally slowly transform its host into fungi. These things that are growing on the animals’ body―sprouting in an absurd fashion quite like roots, weeds or even mushrooms―will then belch forth more spores to infect other individuals. Some species of the cordyceps even have the bizarre ability to manipulate the behavior of its host, convincing it to, for example, travel to places where the fungus will thrive in optimal conditions of growth, thus emitting more and more spores, spreading its pestilence further. Sometimes, full colonies fall victim under the scythe of this fascinating parasite fungi. Imagine, now, if it somehow got hold of humans.