Billions of cicadas are due to emerge, and some of them will be infected with a truly peculiar fungus, Massospora cicadina. Referred to as Flying Salt Shakers of Death, these infected cicadas have a grim and bizarre future above ground. We are joined by the brilliant mycologist and entomologist, Dr. Brian Lovett, who talks us through the mechanisms behind this insidious fungus and why it’s worth studying.

Topics covered:

• Periodical vs annual cicadas
• Brood X life cycle
• Massospora cicadina life cycle and its selected hosts
• Active Host Transition methods in insect-eating fungi
• Behavioral changes in infected hosts 
• Chemical expression of the massospora fungus especially psilocybin & amphetamines
• The significance of the 17-year cicada for researchers and why it's difficult to rear them in the lab

Show notes:

Brian Lovett’s website: https://www.lovettbr.com/
Cicada map: https://www.fs.fed.us/foresthealth/docs/CicadaBroodStaticMap.pdf
How to Eat Cicadas: https://www.bustle.com/articles/155978-how-to-eat-cicadas-that-is-if-youre-brave-enough-to-try
Cicada Mania: https://www.cicadamania.com/
Cicadas peeing: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QypzInWUpcI&list=PLMeYvbKcL_bJvLF0qVA-Mx8W6vZYlBumY
How to protect your trees from cicada damage: https://www.gardeningknowhow.com/plant-problems/pests/insects/cicada-damage-to-trees.htm
Cicada Shell Art: https://www.thecrafttrain.com/cidada-shell-art/
Cicada shells for biomaterials: sci-hub.se/10.1016/j.msec.2009.11.014

Further Reading:

Evolutionary relationship between Massospora cicadina and cicadas: https://sci-hub.se/10.1080/00275514.2020.1742033

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