Cicada Zombies: Unusual Fungus Infects Chicago-Area Insects

By Jennifer Geer

Photo bySagar Vasnani on Unsplash

If you thought the noisy cicadas were annoying this year, just wait until they become "zombies." According to WGN9, a white fungus called Massospora cicadina has already begun infecting the local cicada population. In something out of a horror movie, this fungus keeps the insect alive and controls its behavior even though one-third of its body has turned to fungal tissue.

What Does the Fungus Do?

The fungus causes an infection in male cicadas. The males will begin to act like females to attract male cicadas to mate with. The fungus completely takes over the insects and eventually causes their gonads to fall off. Once this happens, the spores from the fungus are released in the wind and will infect any male cicada that is unlucky enough to be nearby.

Will Chicago's Late Summer Cicadas Catch the Fungus?

Fortunately, this only affects the 13 and 17-year cicadas, not the annual brood, which makes an appearance every July through September. If you're wondering if this could really happen, it's already started in Champaign and is expected to move north to Chicago. This is according to WGN9, who spoke with an expert from Chicago’s Field Museum of Natural History.

What About the Birds?

Photo byBecky Matsubara from El Sobrante, California, CC BY 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons

The birds that have been happily eating and feasting on the millions of noisy bugs will be affected also. Although they can't get infected by the fungus, eating an infected cicada will make the birds hallucinate.

Are People in Danger From the Fungus?

Fortunately, no. This fungus only targets cicadas. It won't infect other animals or insects and doesn't pose safety risks for humans.

The Cicada Emergence of 2024

This year is a rare occurrence that only happens every 221 years when the Great Southern brood and the Northern brood of cicadas emerge together. For Chicago, it has meant a lot of noisy insects flitting around the trees.

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