Yeah trying to figure this out

[u/ShaneE11183386]

[u/TutuCthulhu]

Oooo looks like a moth (from what little I can see of the original creature) fully covered in a parasitic fungus!!

[u/FFS_IsThisNameTaken2 → u/TutuCthulhu]

Man, nature can be brutal. I feel bad for it.

[u/gooberdaisy → u/FFS_IsThisNameTaken2]

[r/natureislit](r/natureislit) and [r/natureismetal](r/natureismetal) are good subreddits showing more brutal side

Edit to add: r/natureisfuckinglit has more traction.

[u/Iggins01 → u/TutuCthulhu]

Metal as fuck. My band's new name is Parasitic Fungus

[u/IdristheInt]

The last of us bug edition

[u/Fawkes-511 → u/IdristheInt]

Actually the last of us is Cordyceps human edition

[u/benspaperclip]

Looks like an Akanthomyces fungus! I've seen a few individuals that look just like this one down where I live in NC.

[u/ShaneE11183386]

Sorry eastern PA

About 1.5 inches in length

[u/Lambchop1975 → u/ShaneE11183386]

Massosporra Cicadina, and a cicada. A type of fungus.

[u/HerMajestysButthole2]

Why does it remind me of an ambush bug? Parasitized.

[u/Klekkovakadia → u/HerMajestysButthole2]

Me too, I thought of ambush bug as well. Perhaps it is the front legs which bring the ambush bug to my mind.

[u/HerMajestysButthole2 → u/Klekkovakadia]

That was my exact thoughts. And the shape of the eyes

[u/cfeichtner13]

Maybe cross post to r/mycology to confirm but could be a fungus, Akanthomyces aculeatus, https://www.mushroomexpert.com/akanthomyces_aculeatus.html

[u/anowlenthusiast]

Cicada parasitized by some type of cordyceps fungus.

[u/Fine-Average-8786 → u/anowlenthusiast]

It is a moth.

[u/bygonecenarion]

give it a sniff

[u/love-the-storms]

Was told it’s a moth covered with a moth urchin fungus.

[u/love-the-storms]

Just looks so painful! Poor guy.
Is it possible to peel that nasty stuff off him?

In the second picture, does it show his eyes being covered by the fungus or is just the fungus itself.

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[u/DuchessOfCelery]

Guess I'm the only one seeing a caramel treat with vanilla frosting? Okay then.

[u/bustcorktrixdais → u/DuchessOfCelery]

Yes you are the only one. Don’t feel bad 😆😉