About Ophiocordyceps dipterigena (Berk. & Broome) G.H.Sung, J.M.Sung, Hywel-Jones & Spatafora
Ophiocordyceps dipterigena is an entomopathogenic fungus that differs in host manipulation from other entomopathogenic fungi that infect flies. Other entomopathogenic fungi of this type manipulate infected flies to move to plant stems, where the flies hang themselves using their legs; this hanging behavior helps the fungus grow and develop. In contrast, O. dipterigena manipulates its fly host to land on a leaf, and the infected fly does not need to hang itself. After the infected fly dies, a fungal structure grows out from inside the insect through its head, and this structure resembles the fly’s antennae. The stroma of O. dipterigena is yellow. Ecologically, Ophiocordyceps dipterigena is a potential candidate for the biological control of Agromyzid flies, which creates new possibilities for using entomopathogenic fungi in biological control programs.
