Zombie fly fungus causes males to have sex with dead female fly corpses

dailystar.co.uk:

READ MORE: Flying Ants Day hits UK at same time as record-breaking heatwave When the zombie female is dead, the fungus releases hypnotising chemical signals known as sesquiterpenes to lure in unfortunate male flies.As the male fly mates with the decomposing female, the fungal spores are showered onto him, causing him to endure the same awful fate as his deceased new partner.A study at the University of Copenhagen and the Swedish University of Agriculture Sciences has explored the chilling phenomenon.Associate professor at the University of Copenhagen and one of the authors of the study, Henrik H.

De Fine Licht, said: "Our observations suggest that this is a very deliberate strategy for the fungus. It is a true master of manipulation – and this is incredibly fascinating."The study even found that as the hours pass and the female carcasses become more decayed, the male flies are driven even more wild by the strange pheromone-like chemical.For the latest breaking news and stories from across the globe from the Daily Star, sign up for our newsletter by clicking here.Almost three-quarters of the male flies chose to mate with fly cadavers that had died from the infection between 25-30 hours earlier, while only 15% of the males mated with female corpses that had been dead for three to eight hours."This is because the number of fungal spores increases with time, which enhances the seductive fragrances," De Fine Licht explained.And while the study might sound revolting, it provides exciting new knowledge that could help scientists develop fly repellants in the future. "Flies are quite unhygienic and can sicken humans and animals," De Fine Licht said.