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.

Researchers have found a new species of fungi that infects spiders turning them into 'zombies' in Ireland and Northern Ireland.

The spiders, found within the White Father Caves under Cavan and Fermanagh, are infected with a fungus that effectively turns them into 'zombies'

A new fungus that infects cave spiders and turns them into "zombies" was discovered in a Victorian gunpowder store at Castle Espie in Northern Ireland during filming for a TV show.

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.

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

Shooting great documentary footage requires some luck, and a BBC nature series hit the jackpot while filming in Northern Ireland in 2021. As Popular Science reports, a team of scientists working on Winterwatch discovered a new type of fungus that zombifies its spider hosts.