Notes on a Laboratory Infection of Diptera Caused by the Fungus Empusa muscae Cohn

Abstract

The signs of an Empusa muscae Cohn infection in dead flies were described over two centuries ago by de Geer (Kirby and Spence, 1826), who, however, attributed the cause to some factor other than a microorganism. Though the validity of the name Empusa has often been questioned, it is used in this paper following the suggestion by MacLeod (1956).The following account deals with the transmission of E. muscae to species of Diptera under controlled laboratory conditions.