For humans, a fungus that causes one's genitals to fall off would be limiting, Boston Public Radio host Jim Braude said during an interview with naturalist Sy Montgomery Wednesday.
But for the cicadas of Brood X — which are emerging from the earth after 17 years underground — the fungus induces hypersexual behavior in infected males, even though it causes the back half of their bodies to completely fall off, including their sex organs.
Montgomery said the fungus affecting cicadas "produces two different drugs, one of which is an amphetamine, the other of which is psilocybin which is the stuff in magic mushrooms," she said. "It makes you think stuff's going on that isn't really going on, like your sex organs are still attached when they're not."
"In my view, it makes murder hornets look like Disney characters, because it combines zombie behavior, a strange fungus and sex," said Montgomery.
Not all of Brood X is infected with the fungus — only about 10 percent is, according to a report in the Washington Post.
Montgomery is a naturalist and author. Her latest book is Montgomery's latest book is "The Hummingbirds' Gift: Wonder, Beauty, and Renewal on Wings."
