Disgusting video shows a caterpillar infected by The Last of Us ‘zombie’ fungus
Disgusting video shows a caterpillar infected by a ‘zombie’ fungus from The Last of Us that grew FIVE TIMES larger than the insect
The scary fungus that turns humans into zombies in HBO’s The Last of Us has been found to infect a caterpillar, eat its insides and grow out of its head.
The gruesome scene was shared in a new video, showing the fungus grew five times larger than the insect.
Caterpillars that live underground are easily victims of the fungus that infiltrates their bodies after shedding their skin.
While the mummified, fungus-infected insect may seem obscene, it’s worth three times its weight in gold.
The rare hybrid is known for its anti-aging, diabetes-busting, and Viagra-like properties, with some people paying upwards of $63.00 a pound for it.
A video shows a mummified caterpillar inside a glass tube. One look further and you can see mushrooms sprouting from its head.
The cordyceps that infect the caterpillars are known as ophiocordyceps sinensis and are found mainly in the grasslands of the Tibetan Plateau in Tibet and in the Himalayan regions of Bhutan and Nepal.
And these cordyceps are cousins to the fungus from The Last of Us, which ranges from infecting ants to turning humans into a zombie state. There are 600 different species under the cordyceps family.
The fungus that infects the caterpillar lies underground waiting for its next victim. Chemicals on the caterpillar’s skin interact with the fungal spores and release the fungal mycelium, infecting the caterpillar.
The spores grow inside the caterpillars, filling their bodies with filaments.
When the caterpillar dies, the fungus produces a stalked fruiting body that extends from the ground, allowing the wind to carry its spores to the next generation of caterpillars.
The video shows a mummified caterpillar inside a glass tube, part of the collection of the University of Michigan Museum of Zoology.
The narrator explains that the fungus infected the insect, which fed on its interior and then sprouted from its head.
The caterpillar mushroom has long been a part of traditional Asian medicine, as people believe it promises energy, stronger immunity, and even a cure for cancer.
These cordyceps are cousins to the fungus in The Last of Us (pictured), which ranges from infecting ants to turning humans into a zombie-like state.
The gruesome scene was shared in a new video, showing the fungus grew five times larger than the insect.
And it is believed that the use of the caterpillar fungus began a thousand years ago.
The creepy hybrid is nicknamed ‘Himalayan Viagra’ in Asia, where it’s considered a wonder drug. It is considered a highly prized “wonder drug” in China and is often used by companies and individuals to bribe government officials.
Although it has no scientifically proven benefits, people who boil the mushroom to add it to stews and teas believe it cures everything from impotence to cancer.
The price of the caterpillar mushroom, called ‘yarchagumba’, has skyrocketed in recent years due to its scarcity and high market demand. The caterpillar fungus is now worth $5 billion to $11 billion.