A fungus turns beetles into zombies and makes them die on flowers; scientists say the timing helps infect the next generation

• Image AI generatedA fungus infecting goldenrod soldier beetles can alter their behaviour before death and cause changes to their bodies afterwards.
• Researchers investigating Eryniopsis lampyridarum found infected Chauliognathus pensylvanicus beetles clamped their mandibles tightly onto flower heads shortly before dying.
• Between 15 and 22 hours after death, the fungus caused the beetles to raise their hardened forewings and expand their hind wings, with these changes occurring mainly between midnight and 7 am.