Gibellula attenboroughii

Gibellula attenboroughii
Scientific classification
Domain:	Eukaryota
Kingdom:	Fungi
Division:	Ascomycota
Class:	Sordariomycetes
Order:	Hypocreales
Family:	Cordycipitaceae
Genus:	Gibellula
Species:	G. attenboroughii
Binomial name
	Gibellula attenboroughii;

Gibellula attenboroughii is a species of parasitic fungus found on arachnids. Gibellula attenboroughii is endemic to the island of Ireland and can be found predominantly in caves.

The species was first discovered in 2021 during the BBC Winterwatch television series where a specimen was found on the ceiling of an abandoned gunpowder storeroom at Castle Espie, located in County Down, Northern Ireland. The specimen was provisionally identified as Gibellula pulchra. Images, sent by the BBC to the senior author, suggested that this was a novel species of the genus Gibellula and, moreover, that the reclusive cave-spider host – subsequently, identified as the orb-weaving spider Metellina merianae (Tetragnathidae: Araneae) – had moved to an exposed situation before death, indicating a behavioural change. These suppositions were included and discussed in the following 2022 Springwatch series after which the specimen was removed and sent for identification.^[1]

References

^ Evans, H.C.; Fogg, T.; Buddie, A.G.; Yeap, Y.T.; Araújo, J.P.M. (2025). "The araneopathogenic genus Gibellula (Cordycipitaceae: Hypocreales) in the British Isles, including a new zombie species on orb-weaving cave spiders (Metainae: Tetragnathidae)". Fungal Systematics and Evolution. doi:10.3114/fuse.2025.15.07. ISSN 2589-3823.

[1] Evans, H.C.; Fogg, T.; Buddie, A.G.; Yeap, Y.T.; Araújo, J.P.M. (2025). "The araneopathogenic genus Gibellula (Cordycipitaceae: Hypocreales) in the British Isles, including a new zombie species on orb-weaving cave spiders (Metainae: Tetragnathidae)". Fungal Systematics and Evolution. doi:10.3114/fuse.2025.15.07. ISSN 2589-3823.

[1]