Entomophthora

[1] This fungus is parasitic and undergoes a number of stages within its life cycle, these include: infection, incubation, sporulation and mummification.

These hyphae then develop into the body of the fungus where the spores can be created once again and released into the environment to ensure further reproduction occurs again.

Spores are the cause infection of a host, this usually occurs in cool and humid conditions commonly in areas where flies rest.

Once the insect has been infected, the fungal disease begins its transmission and development throughout the body, causing harm and soon death to the host.

[11] Within this period the internal hyphae combine digestive enzymes and utilise pressure to penetrate through a number of cuticle layers of the host.

The disturbance of blood flow, tissue and abdominal cuticle causes the pathogen to enter its last stage of its life cycle.

[3] In the host, the appearance of this stage is apparent due to abdominal swelling creating a striped pattern that remains even after death.

The pathogen commonly forces the host to locate itself on a high point of a surface, straighten out its back legs and open its wings.

Spores are micro-unicellular cells that are released and dispersed into the environment in a mass of numbers to increase the likelihood of further development and growth of the fungus.

As spores are very small in size, they are easily moved via environmental conditions, that being wind, water, or even on an animal's fur.

These spores will find favourable conditions and successfully flourish, develop and grow into the structure and body of the fungi.

Spores will begin to develop filaments called hyphae; these are root like structures of the fungi as they branch out into the environment absorbing any available water and other nutrients required for survival.

[19] The rupturing of the sporangium releases a large mass of spores into the environment, this enable the fungi to reproduce rapidly.

The bud will enlarge over time, utilising the nutrients from the parent cell, which in turn ultimately causes growth.

Once the spores are released, their movement is dependent on environmental conditions, more specifically being blown through wind, passing through water streams, etc.

[24] Spores will continue to travel through the environment until they come in contact with an insect where the organism will become infected, and the pathogen's life cycle will begin.

Further allowing the transmission of the pathogen to other organisms, to ultimately maximise infection of the Entomophthora disease throughout the two-winged insect population.

[citation needed] The immune system refers to the organs and tissues that are utilised within the body in order to provide resistance and protection against infection.

[15] All living organisms have an immune system and mechanisms in order to protect themselves from foreign pathogens and molecules that they come in contact with.

As flies are a small and simple organism, they do not have such a complex immune system like humans, however they still are able to defend themselves to some extent against pathogens.

[26] Entomophthora is a parasitic disease, when entered into the body, the immune response is initiated when hemocyte receptors interact with foreign molecules.

These cells travel to the infected site when the immune response is triggered and begin to form a barrier like structure around the foreign parasite.

However, if the fungal pathogen is able to withstand this stress, it has the ability to continue its life cycle, causing death to the host.

[26] Living organisms are categorised within groups of similar species, this process is determined by scientists and is called biological classification.

Death of a fly due to the invasion of Entomophthora
The process of Fungal Reproduction
Entomophthora cf. muscae