Thread subject: Diptera.info :: Stratiomyidae with Entomophorale fungus ??

Posted by coopder on 18-09-2009 11:41
#1
I found this dead fly a few weeks ago with what looks like a fungus growing on it.

I posted the image on another forum and it was identified as Chorisops sp, possibly Chorisops tibialis. I was told that the fungus was Entomophthora muscae, however I've read in a few places that this fungus does not infect Stratiomyiidae only Muscomorphs.

So is this fungus on the fly, and if it is what species?

i37.photobucket.com/albums/e84/coopder/1Soldier-fly---Chorisops-tibialis-2.jpg

Thanks for the help.

Daniel.
Edited by coopder on 20-09-2009 23:23

Posted by paqui on 19-09-2009 17:36
#2
sorry, itīs very interesting but Iīve foundt no reference about fungus in Stratiomyiidae in Lindner nor in British soldierflies nor at Faune de France, they just say Hymenoptera capture them :(
good luck, I hope anyone can say more

Posted by coopder on 20-09-2009 23:25
#3
I would be interested to hear if anyone else has an opinion on if this powdery white stuff is a fungus, or if not what else it could be.

Regards.
Daniel.

Posted by Maddin on 21-09-2009 02:43
#4
Looks like a fungus to me... There are many cases on bugguide
http://bugguide.net/node/view/59369/bgimage
Cheers
Martin

Posted by lagura on 21-09-2009 11:39
#5
Looks like fungus to me too.
Here is an intersting article about Entomophtora muscae

Posted by coopder on 21-09-2009 12:18
#6
The thing I am unsure about is that the article says:

'E. muscae is only pathogenic to certain types of flies (higher Diptera, in the Cyclorrhapa).'

I havn't been able to find any Entomophorale fungus that infect Stratiomyiidae


Posted by Paul Beuk on 21-09-2009 12:31
#7
Culicidae are mentioned: http://www.nysaes...ora_m.html
There is at least one other Entomophthora species attacking Diptera: Entomophthora
schizophorae
Other Culididae fungi: Fungal pathogens such as Lagenidium, Coelomomyces and Culicinomyces
are known to affect mosquito populations, and have been studied extensively.

Posted by lagura on 21-09-2009 13:07
#8
There is also E. syrphi which only infects syrphid flies. So I wouldn't be surprised if there is another species specialized in Stratiomyidae.
You may very well be the first one to discover that :)

Posted by Jan Willem on 22-09-2009 13:11
#9
According to the following list (http://www.fruit....syn-xy.htm) E. syrphi is a synonym of E. muscae.

Posted by Paul Beuk on 22-09-2009 13:24
#10
Googling I also found an association between Zoophthora radicans and Chorisops tibialis in http://arsef.fpsn...orales.pdf / http://arsef.fpsn...ndices.pdf...

Posted by coopder on 22-09-2009 15:30
#11
Thanks for that info. Much appreciated.


Daniel.