The news of further finds of “zombie” spiders in Irish cave systems brought a host of media coverage for the wee beasties at the start of the month.
Gibellula attenboroughii was first discovered in County Down in 2021 during filming of the Beeb Winterwatch nature programme.
The latest find is in caves on the Cavan/ Fermanagh border. As the cave explorer who found the spiders says they should be celebrated as an example of the amazing biodiversity we have on this island.
The sci-fi zombie apocalypse trope which captures the media spotlight is all very much fun, but the value of our fungal heritage here in Ireland, both medicinally and commercially has yet to be fully realised.
