Thread subject: Diptera.info :: fly + growth help please

Posted by fleabag on 30-03-2007 21:00
#1

Hi,
Can anyone help with this?
I took this shot back on 2nd november,and ive just rediscovered it.
It was found at the edge of some mixed woods,near a stream,on the sussex downs.It was still very mild and sunny for november down here.From memory,im guessing it was about 6ish mm,and it was about 3ft up a bit of dried vegetation(poss a dock?),and appeared to have some kind of growth pushing its way out of its body....a fungus maybe?im not sure.it was before i'd got a decent camera,so not a great shot im afraid.

Thanks:)

Posted by pierred on 30-03-2007 21:23
#2

Hello,

Well, this is a classical (but beautiful) picture of a fly parasited by fungi. The classical pattern is that the abdomen looks like it would burst and that the wings are spread as while flying up (because of the way the flies move their wings, not by muscles only like birds, but with the whole abdomen).

Edited by pierred on 30-03-2007 21:26

Posted by Paul Beuk on 30-03-2007 22:27
#3

Entomophthora muscae.

Posted by fleabag on 30-03-2007 22:48
#4

Thats awesome:)

the way it can control the hosts actions ...most impressive.
I'll maybe fantasize about seeing GWB stuck up a tree with fungi sprouting from his ears.
Hope to see it again sometime for some better shots.

thanks for the help:)

Posted by Kahis on 30-03-2007 23:00
#5

The host is a Scathophaga (Scathophagidae)