“A Pathogenic Fungus Uses Volatiles to Entice Male Flies into Fatal Matings With Infected Female Cadavers”, 2021-10-22 (; similar):
To ensure dispersal, many parasites and pathogens behaviorally manipulate infected hosts. Other pathogens and certain insect-pollinated flowers use sexual mimicry and release deceptive mating signals. However, it is unusual for pathogens to rely on both behavioral host manipulation and sexual mimicry. Here, we show that the host-specific and behaviorally manipulating pathogenic fungus, Entomophthora muscae, generates a chemical blend of volatile sesquiterpenes and alters the level of natural host cuticular hydrocarbons in dead infected female house fly (Musca domestica) cadavers.
Healthy male house flies respond to the fungal compounds and are enticed into mating with dead female cadavers. This is advantageous for the fungus as close proximity between host individuals leads to an increased probability of infection.
The fungus-emitted volatiles thus represent the evolution of an extended phenotypic trait that exploites male flies’ willingness to mate and benefit the fungus by altering the behavioral phenotype of uninfected healthy male host flies.