Tag Archives: endoparasite

Spider with really bad fungal infection

Found this clump of fluff a few days ago and initially wasn’t sure what it was. I’d assumed it was some sort of a gall, but when displayed on a big monitor I could see there were legs sticking out. Pretty sure it’s a spider parasitized by a cordyceps fungus. I’m guessing Torrubiella leiopus. But if I’m wrong about it being a spider underneath, I’ll retract that guess. Sort of looks like Sideshow Bob on The Simpsons.

Likely Torrubiella leiopus (Gibelulla leiopus). Media, PA, USA.