A fungus turns beetles into zombies and makes them die on flowers; scientists say the timing helps infect the next generation
Researchers have discovered that a specific fungus, Eryniopsis lampyridarum, manipulates the behavior of goldenrod soldier beetles to ensure its own transmission. Infected beetles are compelled to clamp their mandibles onto flowers before dying, which positions them optimally for the fungus to spread spores to new hosts.
Why it matters
This study provides new insights into how parasitic fungi can alter host behavior to facilitate their life cycle, a phenomenon often referred to as 'zombie' behavior in nature.
A fungus infecting goldenrod soldier beetles can alter their behaviour before death and cause changes to their bodies afterwards. Researchers investigating Eryniopsis lampyridarum found infected Chauliognathus pensylvanicus beetles clamped their mandibles tightly onto flower heads shortly before dying. Between 15 and 22 hours after death, the fungus caused the beetles to raise their hardened forewings and expand their hind wings, with these changes occurring mainly between midnight and 7 am. The researchers recorded infected beetles on frost aster, common boneset and Canada goldenrod during investigations in Arkansas. In one 1996 collection of 446 beetles, 90 were infected, producing an overall prevalence of 20.2%. The study found that infected beetles developed either conidia or resting spores, but not both.
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