Zombie horror series The Last of Us might feel a little more real after you learn about a fungus that infects cave spiders and turns them into "zombie" arachnids.

A new species of fungus straight out of a nightmare has been found lurking on the ceiling of an abandoned gunpowder storeroom in Northern Ireland, enmeshed in the body of an unlucky spider host.

Some parasites exist only in the eyes of the world’s oldest sharks, while researchers have been researching fungus that survives by infecting spiders. Now, a new species of such a fungus has been described altering the behavior of its spider host,

Scientists have discovered a new fungus, Gibellula attenboroughii, that turns reclusive Irish cave spiders into zombies.

A new fungus, Gibellula attenboroughii, was discovered on spiders in Irish caves. It changes their behavior, similar to zombie-ant fungi.

Fungus-infected 'zombie spiders' discovered in Irish caves - The newly discovered fungal species responsible for their zombification has been named Gibellula attenboroughii, in honour of renowned natu

A new fungal species found in Northern Ireland targets orb-weaving spiders, altering their behavior and creating a “zombie” effect.

While filming a documentary in Northern Ireland, a team of scientists discovered a new fungus that appears to manipulate spiders’ behavior–and turn them into “zombies.” The fungus named Gibellula attenboroughii is described in a study published January 24 in the journal Fungal Systematics and Evolution.

It's the stuff of nightmares - or even the hit TV show and video game The Last of Us: a novel fungus that turns its hosts into "zombies". Thankfully, so far, it's only been found in spiders located in several cave systems across the island of Ireland, including the Whitefathers' Caves on the Fermanagh/Cavan border.

Ireland is the only place where a unique fungus has been found that infects reclusive spiders in dark caves and turns them into “zombie-like” creatures, according to cave explorer Tim Fogg.