Bound fly - Pollenia - BugGuide.Net

Moved

Moved from Unidentified Fungus-ridden Flies.
Identifiable fungus-ridden flies are now being moved to their proper places, since there is a gallery of all the fungus-ridden insects here.

… Charley Eiseman, 12 October, 2011 - 2:32pm

Moved

Moved from Cluster flies.

… john and jane balaban, 29 January, 2007 - 1:56pm

Pollenia

This looks like a Pollenia species with those curly gold hairs on the thorax.

… Joel Kits, 6 August, 2005 - 9:37pm

Robert

not sure why you frassed these. We think it would be nice to keep at least this one for the image and the discussion. Can we move this one over to the fly page?

… john and jane balaban, 31 July, 2005 - 11:05pm

frass

John and Jane,

Sure that would fine. I wasn't sure what to do with them because there was no id. Can't say I've got the whole procedure figured out yet.

Robert

… Robert Overbeck, 1 August, 2005 - 6:03am

Fungal infection

These flies are killed by a fungus that has an extraordinary life cycle in flies. Before death the fungus actually seems to induce the dying flies to climb to prominences where they can be seen by other flies. The male flies (and I have been told that only the males are infected) are bloated by the infection giving the appearance of a female fly burdened with eggs. When the next male attempts a sexual contact with this exposed fly the fungus is transferred to another victim. Who then continues the cycle after his infection progresses to the point where he climbs to another prominence and dies exposed and waiting.

… Herschel Raney, 27 July, 2005 - 10:54am

Thanks for this explanation!

I seem to have some photos that go along with this theory:
http://bugguide.net/node/view/1188387

… Hohenems, 24 March, 2017 - 1:31pm

Spooky.

This is amazing. I was 'just' researching this for my field guide this morning! The fungus is Entomophthora muscae, and afflicts many families of flies, including Calliphoridae, Syrphidae,Sarcophagidae,Scatophagidae,Dropsophilidae,and Culicidae.

… Eric R. Eaton, 27 July, 2005 - 1:39pm

Fungus

Hi Hershel,

Second time you've answered a question of mine. Thank you very much. That's a pretty diabolical fungus. Does it only occur in this species (whatever this this is?)?.

Robert

… Robert Overbeck, 27 July, 2005 - 11:33am

Fly

Whatever it is, is right. I don't think the fungi are specific to one group of flies and certainly not one species. And I would need to get a fungi expert to answer whether this is a large group of fungal species or just one doing the dirty work.

… Herschel Raney, 27 July, 2005 - 11:42am

Amazing fungus

It's really amazing. I was telling my wife about it and she thought you were pulling my leg. There's a really bizarre type of intelligence to to the whole process. Very creepy sci-fi type thing.

… Robert Overbeck, 27 July, 2005 - 2:58pm

More images and discussion

For more images and discussion, visit

… john and jane balaban, 27 July, 2005 - 11:49am

Another example

… Beatriz Moisset, 5 August, 2005 - 9:27am