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entomopathogenic fungus on spider

Gibellula sp.?

Photo by Scott Frazier
Published on Project Noah
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Field Notes

Description:

An unidentified (jumping?) spider killed by a massive fungal infestation. It looks like one of the Gibellula species (a.k.a. Torrubiella) as (genus) was suggested below. There is more than one species with visual (naked eye) similarity to this specimen. This ID must be regarded as PLAUSIBLE at best.

Habitat:

Spotted on an ornamental Hibiscus sp. shrub in a village yard. Surrounding semi-natural habitats included ocean beach, remnant coastal freshwater swamp forest /sago swamp and a coralline limestone ridge.

Notes:

See also http://bugguide.net/node/view/230781?from=50&comments_per_page=50

Reference Links:

Gibellula, http://mushroomobserver.org/species_list/show_species_list/163?letter=G

Species ID Suggestions

araneogenous fungus

Gibellula pulchra

Reference Link
DaniKisso
3

Comments (39)
Leuba Ridgway
awful for the spider but what a spotting ! I hope this kills the spider quickly...
Tom15
Great find and photo!
DinDjarin
SPECTACULAR¡¡¡¡ NICE¡¡¡¡¡ COOOL¡¡¡¡ NICE SPOTTING¡¡¡¡ WELL DONE¡¡¡ CONGRATULATIONS¡¡¡¡
Braulio Rivas Tapia
Incredible! Have you ever seen PLANET EARTH: JUNGLES? Is an impressive documental about the wildlife in rainforests and there I saw fungus like those. Nice picture!
Scott Frazier
Thanks kimkiu, Christine & Carol! @myxomop I have created a record http://mushroomobserver.org/95666?q=Gliq
catgrin
Fantastic photo! It's amazing the distruction that fungus causes to the body.
Scott Frazier
Yes Thanks, I intend to upload the images once I locate the originals. No microphotographs available...Yes it is not a firm ID, amended to indicate this.
myxomop
and the recommendation for uploading this to MushroomObserver still stands, with microphotos if at all possible.
myxomop
Not possible to ID without a microscope. __Gibellula pulchra__ is only one of many entomopathogens that occur on adult arachnids. Knowing the ID of the host may be critical as well.
Leuba Ridgway
I wasn't part of PN when you put this up - what an amazing spotting ! and very clear photos too...
Wild Things
Nice spotting. Never knew such phenomena's occur :-)
Scott Frazier
After a horrendously long time, I am moving this spotting from arthropods to fungi and giving it an (partial) ID. Thanks again to DaniKisso for his species suggestion so many months ago.
Scott Frazier
Thanks. No I didn't. Yes, at one of my locations. Thanks for the tip.
myxomop
Outstanding. Did you save the specimen? Do you have access to a microscope? I'd highly suggest uploading this to MushroomObserver.org
The MnMs
Uff..it looks painful..poor animal..well, the fungus also has to survive but I dislike parasites in general..although on the other hand they are very important in modulating natural selection...
BrandonBlount
That is simply amazing!!! Great photos and extremely rare capture!!!
AlexKonig
the animals (ants,beetles,spiders) infested with this fungus, will get brainwashed--> the fungus let the animal search for the right spot to grow. example: the spider who normaly is alert not to go in plane sight,does it because the fungus,dictated her to do so.So the funghus can grow on the optimal spot/place.!!!
Atul
fantastic spotting
DaniKisso
Wow! Great photos! Looks like a Gibellula pulchra fungus. I've never seen this before in real life. Stuff of nightmares.

Spotted for Missions

Mission
Mushroom Mapping
Mission
International Spider Survey
Mission
Jumping Spiders of the World

Tags

Photographed
PublishedAugust 24, 2011

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