---

Hi,

Recentlly I'd encounter a stange phenomenon. Many dead Eupeodes on Dactylis glomerata. The Dactylis is not a sticky or poison plants and as far as I know has no nectar to offer.

---

Looking closer reveal many dead Eupeodes between its pollen. I can see no reason for a plan to kill it's fertilisation insects.

What do you think is the cause for it?

---

The flies were killed by a fungus: Entomophthora muscae.

---

Do you know which species this is?

---

I thought I'd see a photo of a Syrphidae killing a plant :D

I've seen something similar to this. Literally hundreds of dead or dying Syrphidae on various kinds of grasses and weeds. Those were mostly Melanostoma too, but also a few Episyrphus balteatus. Some were actually grasping on to others.

---

Rui,
I originally was thinking the swollen belly was femals with eggs belly :) Not that not all of them are swollen.
But the big question is what are they doing on that plant? why not going to die on the ground or if they want to do it on plants why not on one of the surrounding plants?


To Andre, as a matter of fact I didn't checked :| I was assuming it was Eupeodes corollae but didn't looked too close.

---

They don't look like corollae to me, maybe not even Eupeodes. Well, no hard feelings ;)

---

Andre,

Here a closed up on the fly. I agree it doesn't look like Eupeodes but I'm not sure what it is.

---

They look like Melanostoma sp. to me.

The reason why they are were they are is that the fungus interfere with their oxygen intake, so climbing to a higher altidude, and also hold their wings in an unnatural position, apparently help them to breathe for the short time they have left in life. Unfortunately this behavior also helps the fungus to spread easier.

---

Could be... I am not familiar with near-east Syrphidae. But if it is Melanostoma, which species is it? For scalare they look too similar (variable species) and the spots don't really match for me... And are they all females here?
And in the first picture, what's there hanging in the top?