Parasitic fungus on fly???

[cervinae]

Ok, I'm really kicking myself here because I didn't pay anywhere near as much attention to this sample (which I left on my friend's decking sunday afternoon... d'oh!). It wasn't until tonight when I was going through some more of the photos I took that I suddenly thought it looked odd. Initially I thought this sample to be some kind of plant/tree frowing from a kernel or nut. It was quite woody and not delicate at all. I found it quite by accident when rooting around looking for Marasmius epiphylus. You can see in the first picture it in situ (circled in red). The next two pictures show it's somewhat erratic growth (possibly between 5 and 7 cm but I just can't be sure). In picture 2 you can see the it had a slightly bulbous tip and in picture 3 how it appears to be errupting from what (I believe) appears to be a flie (sprouting from between the head and the thorax). Picture 4 is the only image I have of the "fly" face on (on it's side) and it wasn't the main focus of that pic and I had to blow it up (hence the poor quality, sorry). The books I own show only a couple of parasitic fungi of insects and neither look like this. Am I going mad and this is a plant with kernel or is it parasitic fungi growing from a fly? What is it??? I truly wish I'd kept that sample now









Regards, David

[flaxton]

Try Hymenostilbe muscarium.

Mal

[Kayleigh]

It looks like a worm but you said its woody so was it alive the parasite not the fly..

[Wild-Woman]

I remember seeing something like this on an ant that was in one of David Attenboroughs superb documentaries. Basically the fungus drove the ant into changing its behaviour when it entered its body. The ant was compelled to climb to the highest part of a plant, where it succumbed to the attack. The fruiting body was able to expel its spores high up and to its best effects. Amazing stuff.
Good pictures. I'll follow this thread with interest.

[cervinae]

@flaxton: I recall an earlier thread by JennyS where you suggested Hymenostilbe muscarium (Fungus on a fly?), I just thought this "thing" looked far too long to be the same fungus (plus her photo showed multiple fruiting bodies). But if that's the the only fungus that eats flies then I guess that's what it is.

@Kayleigh: I'm certain it wasn't a worm despite it's appearance... I just wasn't certain it was a fungus because of my initial dismisal of it

@Wild-Woman: Gotta love Attenborough I vaguely recall that documentary too.

[Kayleigh]

How fascinating and great shots lucky you looked again ..

[flaxton]

Originally Posted by cervinae

@flaxton: I recall an earlier thread by JennyS where you suggested Hymenostilbe muscarium (Fungus on a fly?), I just thought this "thing" looked far too long to be the same fungus (plus her photo showed multiple fruiting bodies). But if that's the the only fungus that eats flies then I guess that's what it is.

.

Unknown Cordyceps

Is this one any more like yours

Mal

[cervinae]

Yes indeed, they could be twins Gah, wish I'd kept it now

Many thanks as always Mal

Regards, David

[basquesteve]

I found this thread very interesting and looking up something completely different I thought this could be the cause-- a Mould structure coremia of Paecilomyces farinosus

I apologise if I am talking rubbish

With regard to ants climbing high with an infection I came across many (50+) dead Grass-Hoppers this Spring infected with a mold/fungus always on the top of long grass

[Wild-Woman]

Originally Posted by basquesteve

I found this thread very interesting and looking up something completely different I thought this could be the cause-- a Mould structure coremia of Paecilomyces farinosus

I apologise if I am talking rubbish

With regard to ants climbing high with an infection I came across many (50+) dead Grass-Hoppers this Spring infected with a mold/fungus always on the top of long grass

Perhaps the same affect as Attenboroughs ants then. Nature is so amazing.