Strongwellsea

Strongwellsea is a genus of fungi within the order Entomophthorales of the Zygomycota. They are known to infect insects. Infected adult dipteran hosts (flies from Anthomyiidae, Fanniidae, Muscidae, and Scathophagidae families) develop a large hole in their abdomens, through which conidia (spores) are then actively discharged while the hosts are still alive.

While most fungi spore once the host is dead, with the Strongwellsea fungus, the flying host continues to live for days and also socialising with other flies while the fungus consumes its genitals, fat reserves, reproductive organs, and then finally its muscle, as it continues to emit thousands of spores on to other individuals and hosts. Then the host fly dies. The method of keeping the host alive while still releasing spores is called active host transmission (AHT). The fungi spores are almost shaped like torpedoes and are designed for going fast (through the air). If they land on another fly host, they stick to the cuticle and then migrate their way into the abdomen, where they start to generate spores. Thousands of spores can be released out from a single fly host.