Coenosia is a very large genus of true flies of the family Muscidae.[1][2] Coenosia are known as tiger flies since they are predators and hunt many kinds of insects and other invertebrates.[3]

Coenosia
Coenosia sexmaculata
Scientific classification Edit this classification
Domain: Eukaryota
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Arthropoda
Class: Insecta
Order: Diptera
Family: Muscidae
Subfamily: Coenosiinae
Tribe: Coenosiini
Genus: Coenosia
Meigen, 1826
Type species
Musca tigrina
Fabricius, 1775
Synonyms
Coenosia atra with prey

In Denmark, fungi Strongwellsea tigrinae and Strongwellsea acerosa (from the Strongwellsea genus, order Entomophthorales) infect the flying hosts from the genus Coenosia.[4] Including species Coenosia tigrina and Coenosia testacea. While most fungi spore once the host is dead, with Strongwellsea, the host continues to live for days, carrying out normal activities and socialising with other flies while the fungus consumes its genitals, fat reserves, reproductive organs and finally its muscle, all the while shooting out thousands of spores on to other individuals.[5]

Species

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References

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  1. ^ D'Assis Fonseca, E.C.M. (1968). Diptera Cyclorrhapha Calyptrata: Muscidae. Handbooks for the Identification of British Insects. Vol. 10. London: Royal Entomological Society of London. pp. 118pp.
  2. ^ Gregor, F.; Rozkosny, R.; Bartak, M.; Vanhara, J. (2002). The Muscidae (Diptera) of Central Europe. Scientiarum Naturalium Universitatis Masarykianae Brunensis. Vol. 107. Masaryk: Masaryk University. pp. 280pp.
  3. ^ Burgert Muller (March 22, 2023). "Curious Tiger flies of southern Africa". CULNA.
  4. ^ Eilenberg, Jørgen; Michelsen, Verner; Humber, Richard A. (2020). "Strongwellsea tigrinae and Strongwellsea acerosa (Entomophthorales: Entomophthoraceae), two new species infecting dipteran hosts from the genus Coenosia (Muscidae)". Journal of Invertebrate Pathology. 175. Bibcode:2020JInvP.17507444E. doi:10.1016/j.jip.2020.107444. PMID 32707095.
  5. ^ Weston, Phoebe (15 December 2020). "Scientists find two new species of fungi that turn flies into 'zombies'". the Guardian. Retrieved 28 December 2022.
  6. ^ Gregor, Frantisek; Rozkosný, Rudolf (2008). "Additions and corrections to The Muscidae of Central Europe III. A new species of Coenosia Meigen, 1826 from Central Europe (Diptera, Muscidae)". Biologia. 63 (6): 323–327. ISSN 0006-3088.
  7. ^ Muller, B.S. (2019). "A curious new Coenosia Meigen, 1826 (Diptera, Muscidae) from Mariepskop, Mpumalanga, South Africa". African Invertebrates. 60 (2): 239–253. Bibcode:2019AfrIn..60..239M. doi:10.3897/afrinvertebr.60.39538. ISSN 2305-2562. Retrieved 25 October 2019.
  8. ^ Muller, B.S.; Miller, R.M. (2013). "Rediscovering the Old from New: Two Curious Species of Coenosia Meigen (Diptera: Muscidae) from South Africa" (Online). African Invertebrates. 54 (2): 595–603. Bibcode:2013AfrIn..54..595M. doi:10.5733/afin.054.0219. ISSN 2305-2562. Retrieved 25 October 2019.