Scientists Study Fungus Turning Cicadas into Hypersexual 'Zombies'

Researchers investigate Massospora cicadina, the only fungus known to produce amphetamine in insects, affecting cicada behavior.

Massospora cicadina hijacks cicadas, making them hypersexual to spread its spores as an STD.
The fungus has the largest known genome of any fungus, with 1.5 billion base pairs.
Researchers are collecting infected cicadas nationwide for RNA analysis.
Infected cicadas replace genitalia with a white, gummy plug that disperses spores.
The fungus does not kill cicadas but alters their behavior to ensure its spread.