Spores of the parasitic fungus Strongwellsea acerosa. Infected hosts continue to function for days. Photograph: Faculty of Science/University of Copenhagen
The image above, on its own, would be a mystery calling to be explained. Phoebe Weston has our attention again, this time with a story from the fungi universe:
Scientists find two new species of fungi that turn flies into ‘zombies‘
Insect-destroying fungi ‘may represent the next frontier for drug discovery’
A fly infected with the fungus Strongwellsea tigrinae. Spores are discharged through a hole in the abdomen. Photograph: Faculty of Science/University of Copenhagen
Two new fungi species that infect flies and eject spores out of a large hole in the insect’s abdomen “like small rockets” have been discovered in Denmark.
The new species, Strongwellsea tigrinae and Strongwellsea acerosa, are host-specific and rely on two species of Danish fly – Coenosia tigrina and Coenosia testacea, according to researchers at the University of Copenhagen. Continue reading
Organikos 