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 cicadasBrood X life cycleMassospora cicadina life cycle and its selected hostsActive Host Transition methods in insect-eating fungiBehavioral changes in infected hosts Chemical expression of the massospora fungus especially psilocybin & amphetaminesThe significance of the 17-year cicada for researchers and why it's difficult to rear them in the labShow notes:Brian Lovett’s website: https://www.lovettbr.com/Cicada map: https://www.fs.fed.us/foresthealth/docs/CicadaBroodStaticMap.pdfHow to Eat Cicadas: https://www.bustle.com/articles/155978-how-to-eat-cicadas-that-is-if-youre-brave-enough-to-tryCicada Mania: https://www.cicadamania.com/Cicadas peeing: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QypzInWUpcI&list=PLMeYvbKcL_bJvLF0qVA-Mx8W6vZYlBumYHow to protect your trees from cicada damage: https://www.gardeningknowhow.com/plant-problems/pests/insects/cicada-damage-to-trees.htmCicada Shell Art: https://www.thecrafttrain.com/cidada-shell-art/Cicada shells for biomaterials: sci-hub.se/10.1016/j.msec.2009.11.014Further Reading:Evolutionary relationship between Massospora cicadina and cicadas: https://sci-hub.se/10.1080/00275514.2020.1742033