A discovery of a long-lost, ancient fungus has shed light on the evolution of parasitic fungi infecting insects during the age of dinosaurs. The fungus, Ophiocordyceps unilateralis, was trapped in tree sap that later fossilized to form amber, providing rare evidence of its existence.
Dating back around 99 million years, this discovery marks one of the oldest known instances of a fungal pathogen infecting an insect. This ancient fungus was responsible for a grim fate, turning its victims into “zombies” before ultimately bursting out of their tissues and sending spores far and wide.
The study’s findings are significant not only due to their age but also because they provide insights into the early evolution of entomopathogenic fungi. These fungi play a crucial role in controlling insect populations, which can have a positive impact on the environment.
“It’s fascinating to see some of the strangeness of the natural world that we see today was also present at the height of the age of the dinosaurs,” said Professor Edmund Jarzembowski, co-author of the study. “As the infections are lethal, Ophiocordyceps and its fossil relatives likely played an important role in controlling the populations of insects by the Mid-Cretaceous.”
The discovery is remarkable not only due to its age but also because it has enabled scientists to name two new species: Paleoophiocordyceps gerontoformicae and Paleoophiocordyceps ironomyiae. The study was published in the journal Proceedings of the Royal Society B: Biological Sciences.
Source: https://www.iflscience.com/99-million-year-old-amber-fossils-mark-the-oldest-known-example-of-zombie-fungus-infection-79767