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Zombie Beetles Grip Flowers Before Dying
3 Sep
Summary
- Fungus makes beetles clamp jaws on flowers before death.
- Post-mortem, fungus moves dead beetles' wings.
- Infections noted on various flowers in Arkansas in autumn.
A remarkable fungal infection is transforming goldenrod soldier beetles into post-mortem puppets. The fungus, Eryniopsis lampyridarum, causes infected Chauliognathus pensylvanicus beetles to clamp their mandibles onto flower heads just before death. This behavior, documented in investigations in Arkansas, is thought to aid fungal spore dispersal.
Following the beetle's demise, the fungus continues its manipulation. Between 15 and 22 hours after death, typically from midnight to 7 am, the fungus causes the deceased insects to raise their hardened forewings and expand their hind wings. Researchers observed these infected beetles on frost aster, common boneset, and Canada goldenrod, with outbreaks primarily occurring in the autumn.
In one study from 1996, a prevalence of 20.2% infected beetles was recorded. The fungus produces either conidia or resting spores, but not both. While the exact mechanism behind the pre-death gripping behavior remains unknown, the fungus's control over the dead beetles' bodies on flowering plants likely increases opportunities for spore transmission to new hosts, offering a fascinating glimpse into fungal-insect interactions.
