Novotel Barcelona Cornella
Address: Avinguda Del Maresme 78 Ronda De Dalt Exit 15, 08940
Comella de Llobregat, Barcelona, Spain
4th International Conference on
Infectious Diseases
September 09–10, 2026 | Barcelona, Spain
Massospora cicadina
Massospora cicadina
Massospora cicadina is a highly specialized parasitic fungus that infects only periodical cicadas of the genus Magicicada, which emerge every 13 or 17 years. Unlike typical infections that quickly kill their host, this fungus keeps the cicada alive while gradually consuming its tissues. As the infection progresses, the fungus replaces the end of the cicada’s abdomen with a mass of spores, allowing continuous spread to other cicadas. This unique lifecycle makes it one of the most fascinating examples of host manipulation in nature.
- Infects cicadas during emergence from soil
- Spores attach to the exoskeleton and enter the body
- Fungus develops internally without immediately killing the host