2020 has dropped another horror on us as a “farewell gift” as it passes and we get ready to welcome 2021.
Scientists have discovered flies that are zombified due to a type of fungi and now the zombie flies are spreading the infection to other flies.
The zombified flies are completely controlled by the fungi
According to a study published in the Journal of Invertebrate Pathology, scientists in Denmark made an astonishing discovery. They found two new species of fungi that infect flies, devour them from inside, and then eject clumps of orange spores from their abdomens to infect other flies.
The most surprising thing about this phenomenon is that the infected flies don’t die. They are kept alive by the fungi which release doping chemicals like amphetamine to keep the flies alive and moving until they have managed to infect others.
The fungi also produce many antimicrobial substances that keep other microbes away from the rotting bodies of the zombie flies as the fungi eat them from the inside.
This is the full process of how flies are turned into zombies
Once they infect the flies, they start eating the flies from inside. First, the fungus eats the genitals of the fly, then it moves to the fat reserves, and then absorbs all the muscles. After which, the fungi start shooting rocket-like spores from the fly’s stomach, these spores land on other flies and infect them as well.
This process continues until the zombified fly is dead, but the infected flies don’t seem to be aware that they are infected. They continue living normally, they keep interacting with other flies – increasing the chances of spreading the infection.
Scientists said that this process is called Active Host Transmission – something like we see in the zombie movies. It helps in finding more hosts to infect and ensures the survival of the fungi.
The zombie flies die after many days, spasming for hours before they are put out of their misery.
Scientists currently estimate that only 3%-5% of the flies are infected. But the problem is that the zombie flies show no direct symptoms of any infection.
Sources:
The research was conducted by the University of Copenhagen in collaboration with the Natural History Museum of Denmark, and was published in the Journal of Invertebrate Pathology.
Researchers at the University of Copenhagen wrote that the two species of fungi “Strongwellsea tigrinae” and “Strongwellsea acerosa” are infecting the flies.
Featured Image Courtesy: Daily Mail