The survival strategy of the fungus is both fascinating and possibly going to put you off your next meal.
The fungus can be transferred to the male fly if he is attracted to the female flies. The fly is taken over by another fly.
Sesquiterpenes are chemical messages that are sent out as a seductive signal when synthesised in the female body. The longer the corpse has been dead, the more attractive it is to men.
The chemical signals act like bewitching male flies and cause an incredible urge for them to mate with lifeless female carcasses, according to evolutionary biologists.
When a female fly is bitten by E. muscae, it starts to grow. It can control the behavior of the insect by sending it up to the highest point possible before it dies.
The study shows that by getting a male over, E. muscae can get into at least one more host.
The team used a variety of chemical analysis and genetic Sequencing techniques to figure out what the fungus was doing, as well as exposing male flies to female partners at different stages of the disease.
The observations suggest that this is a deliberate strategy. This is a true master of manipulation, and it's fascinating.
Female corpses that had been dead for less than a day attracted 15 percent of male flies, whereas corpses that had been dead for more than a day attracted 73 percent. More signals were released as time went on.
Scientists have seen sesquiterpenes being used to attract insects before. It seems to be one of the most effective ways to manipulate these tiny creatures.
sesquiterpenes could be used to lure flies away from certain areas, such as where food is being prepared, in order to prevent them from spreading diseases.
H. De Fine Licht believes that the Entomophthora muscae fungus could be useful. We might be able to use the same fragrances as a biological pest control that will attract healthy males to a fly trap instead of a corpse.
The research has appeared in a journal.
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