View previous topic :: View next topic |
Author |
Message |
themagicdrainpipe

Joined: 28 Apr 2014 Posts: 19 Location: Ohio
|
Posted: Fri Dec 01, 2017 8:17 am Post subject: Entomophthora muscae - Fly Death Fungus |
|
|
I haven't been on in a long while, but I think I am going to try and be a little more active here! Since I last left I have figured out some diffusion issues I was having, as well as got a 5D IV. I was researching Zerene again when I came back across the forum. I think this year I'm finally going to buy it
So this was an odd set and sequence of events. I'll start at the beginning with this photo:
At first I thought it was just some sort of weird decay on the abdomen of the fly, and I was mainly focused on doing a memorialized death photo, if that makes sense. Got great focus on the eyes, and the resolution of the 5D IV really shows here. Coming from a 5D II I was blown away.
Here's a near-100% crop:
So I go back to my house and start to do some research, and find out the white on the abdomen is actually a fungus. The fungus infects the fly, causes it to bloat and die, and then the interstitial membranes in the abdomen swell and release spores of the fungus. This is where things get interesting: the fly dies in a sort of "mating posture". Unsuspecting suitors swing by for a quickie, and end up catching the worst STD of their short life. The fungus can either spread this way or just by wind.
So I go back outside looking for the same fly to get a better photo of the abdomen. Turn out I can't find it, but what I do find is that the tree that the fly was on is completely covered in dead infected flies in varying stages of the fungus' life cycle. Amazing!
Here's a couple that died together:
Same two, but a better shot of the abdomen and spore expulsion:
Another victim and their new host:
Close up of an abdomen:
This is the end result after it all, with the interstitial membrane exposed and most of the spores evacuated:
This is one of those posts where I have a realization that macro is always teaching me something new. Any other day I would have passed over the dead fly and wouldn't have thought anything of it. I'm glad that I can remain interested and hungry for more knowledge  |
|
Back to top |
|
 |
microman
Joined: 14 Jan 2017 Posts: 122
|
Posted: Fri Dec 01, 2017 9:18 am Post subject: |
|
|
Wow, scary stuff but very interesting. Got shots ! |
|
Back to top |
|
 |
Lou Jost
Joined: 04 Sep 2015 Posts: 3188 Location: Ecuador
|
|
Back to top |
|
 |
zzffnn

Joined: 22 May 2014 Posts: 1700 Location: Texas USA
|
Posted: Fri Dec 01, 2017 9:56 am Post subject: |
|
|
Fascinating indeed. The biology story behind is exactly why I am interested in macro. Thank you very much for sharing. _________________ Selling my Canon FD 200mm F/2.8 lens |
|
Back to top |
|
 |
themagicdrainpipe

Joined: 28 Apr 2014 Posts: 19 Location: Ohio
|
Posted: Fri Dec 01, 2017 10:07 am Post subject: |
|
|
Lou Jost wrote: | How fascinating!!! That is an amazing set of pictures and I learned something new about STDs. |
I was joking when I said STD, but now that I technically think about it the fungus definitely fits the description! _________________ Check out my Instagram! http://www.instagram.com/macrobrice |
|
Back to top |
|
 |
Troels

Joined: 15 Feb 2016 Posts: 405 Location: Denmark, Engesvang
|
Posted: Fri Dec 01, 2017 12:26 pm Post subject: |
|
|
Fascinating illustrated story. _________________ Troels Holm, biologist (retired), environmentalist, amateur photographer.
Visit my Flickr albums |
|
Back to top |
|
 |
Ken Ramos

Joined: 27 Jul 2006 Posts: 7076 Location: lat=35.4005&lon=-81.9841
|
Posted: Sat Dec 02, 2017 10:40 am Post subject: |
|
|
Gruesome but oh so interesting. I haven't found any examples here in the foothills of Western North Carolina but at a little over 6,000 feet on Mt. Mitchell I found numerous examples of this some years back on a hike over the ridge line to Mt. Craig. |
|
Back to top |
|
 |
JH

Joined: 09 Mar 2013 Posts: 1188 Location: Vallentuna, Stockholm, Sweden
|
Posted: Sat Dec 02, 2017 11:43 am Post subject: |
|
|
Very interesting, thanks for posting.
Best regards
Jörgen Hellberg _________________ Jörgen Hellberg, my webbsite www.hphoto.se |
|
Back to top |
|
 |
SallyFungi
Joined: 02 Nov 2017 Posts: 30
|
Posted: Mon Dec 04, 2017 7:22 pm Post subject: |
|
|
These are fantastic! I teach a few lectures in mycology every year. Would you mind if I used one of these images in lectures? _________________ Fungal taxonomist
Canon 6D Mark II, Stackshot, Nikon Eclipse Ni with DIC, Infinity 3 Luminera microscope camera |
|
Back to top |
|
 |
themagicdrainpipe

Joined: 28 Apr 2014 Posts: 19 Location: Ohio
|
Posted: Wed Dec 06, 2017 4:31 am Post subject: |
|
|
SallyFungi wrote: | These are fantastic! I teach a few lectures in mycology every year. Would you mind if I used one of these images in lectures? |
No, go right ahead! I take these for fun, and I would love for others to see and learn from them. _________________ Check out my Instagram! http://www.instagram.com/macrobrice |
|
Back to top |
|
 |
SallyFungi
Joined: 02 Nov 2017 Posts: 30
|
Posted: Wed Dec 06, 2017 4:08 pm Post subject: |
|
|
Thanks very much.  _________________ Fungal taxonomist
Canon 6D Mark II, Stackshot, Nikon Eclipse Ni with DIC, Infinity 3 Luminera microscope camera |
|
Back to top |
|
 |
razashaikh
Joined: 14 Nov 2017 Posts: 124 Location: India
|
Posted: Mon Dec 11, 2017 9:50 pm Post subject: |
|
|
Nice Shots. |
|
Back to top |
|
 |
MiB

Joined: 18 Dec 2012 Posts: 64 Location: Vienna
|
Posted: Sun Feb 04, 2018 10:05 am Post subject: |
|
|
Very nice shots and an amazing story;
love it (and I´m glad we do not have such STDs in humans). |
|
Back to top |
|
 |
Dalantech
Joined: 03 Aug 2008 Posts: 401
|
|
Back to top |
|
 |
tevans9129
Joined: 30 Nov 2017 Posts: 129 Location: TN
|
Posted: Wed Feb 07, 2018 7:46 am Post subject: |
|
|
A very interesting post and great images, fascinating. |
|
Back to top |
|
 |
|