‘Plants and Fungi’ Runner-Up
The runner-up in the fungal category is this similarly gnarly shot of a spider that has been harnessed by a fungus. “While it is not uncommon to encounter insects parasitised by ‘zombie’ fungi in the wild, it is a rarity to witness large spiders succumbing to these fungal conquerors,” said photographer Roberto García-Roa. The fungi sprouts like coral from the spider’s back and legs, making it appear hairy—while the spider isn’t really, its situation clearly is.
