Furia

Furia is a genus of fungi within the family of Entomophthoraceae of the Zygomycota. This has been supported by molecular phylogenetic analysis (Gryganskyi et al. 2012). Originally created in 1966 by Polish mycologist Andrzej Batko (1933-1997), as a subgenus of Zoophthora, The genus name of Furia is derived from the Latin furia - this is due to stress the destructive effect of the epizootic of this type species of the subgenus in populations of Lepidoptera caterpillars. American mycologist Richard A. Humber raised Furia to the generic level. Distribution It has been recorded being found mainly in America and Europe (especially in Great Britain) also Spain, with a few sparse discoveries world wide, such as Mexico, and Brazil. In Poland and Austria, and a few other parts of Europe, the presence of the fungus Furia shandongensi has been found on earwigs. Species notes Furia ithacensis is a species of the pathogenic fungus in America that causes a fatal disease in flies, specifically snipe flies (Rhagio sp.). The infected 'zombified' fly-host makes its a journey to some vegetation, normally the underside of a leaf and most often during the evening hours. By morning, the fly will already have been dead for hours. Its fungus-ridden cadaver will be perched on the leaf with its wings spread as though ready to take flight. Its dead body is bound to the leaf by hundreds of hyphae. The hyphae are specialized so that they grab the leaf with a strong sucker-like protrusions. The cadaver attracts new fly victims, especially searching males that are prompted by their sexual attraction to these flies. During the night, the fungus had been busy producing and expelling spores. These spores showered the environment surrounding the fly cadaver like fungal bullets of death. So, as curious flies and also males inspect the cadaver, they pick up the fungal spores, and the infection cycle starts again.