Arthrophaga myriapodina

Arthrophaga myriapodina

''Arthrophaga myriapodina'' is a fungus in the Entomophthorales that parasitizes the millipedes ''Apheloria virginiensis corrugata'', ''Boraria infesta'', and ''Nannaria'' sp. Infected millipedes typically climb to an elevated spot before death.
Arthrophaga myriapodina Fungus which has parasitized a millipede found on a forested trail. This species of pathogenic "zombie" fungus specializes on millipedes. Once the spores have found a way into the host's body, the fungus ultimately assumes control of the millipede entirely. The host behavior is hijacked in order to amplify spore dispersal; expended hosts are often found in elevated positions like tree branches or the higher positions. Zombie millipedes are often spotted following periods of heavy rain. https://www.jungledragon.com/image/106804/arthrophaga_myriapodina.html https://www.jungledragon.com/image/106802/arthrophaga_myriapodina.html https://www.jungledragon.com/image/106801/arthrophaga_myriapodina.html https://www.jungledragon.com/image/106803/arthrophaga_myriapodina.html Arthrophaga myriapodina,Geotagged,United States,Winter

Appearance

''Arthrophaga myriapodina'' forms white to light brown pustules that emerge between the segments of a millipede. Its primary conidia are pear-shaped and contain 8-18 nuclei. They are forcibly discharged. No resting spore stage has been observed.
Arthrophaga myriapodina Fungus which has parasitized a millipede found on a forested trail. This species of pathogenic "zombie" fungus specializes on millipedes. Once the spores have found a way into the host's body, the fungus ultimately assumes control of the millipede entirely. The host behavior is hijacked in order to amplify spore dispersal; expended hosts are often found in elevated positions like tree branches or the higher positions. Zombie millipedes are often spotted following periods of heavy rain. https://www.jungledragon.com/image/106803/arthrophaga_myriapodina.html https://www.jungledragon.com/image/106802/arthrophaga_myriapodina.html https://www.jungledragon.com/image/106801/arthrophaga_myriapodina.html https://www.jungledragon.com/image/106800/arthrophaga_myriapodina.html Arthrophaga myriapodina,Geotagged,United States,Winter

Habitat

''Arthrophaga myriapodina'' is found in eastern North America from May to October, usually 12 to 24 hours after rain.
Arthrophaga myriapodina Fungus which has parasitized a millipede found on a forested trail. This species of pathogenic "zombie" fungus specializes on millipedes. Once the spores have found a way into the host's body, the fungus ultimately assumes control of the millipede entirely. The host behavior is hijacked in order to amplify spore dispersal; expended hosts are often found in elevated positions like tree branches or the higher positions. Zombie millipedes are often spotted following periods of heavy rain. https://www.jungledragon.com/image/106804/arthrophaga_myriapodina.html https://www.jungledragon.com/image/106802/arthrophaga_myriapodina.html https://www.jungledragon.com/image/106803/arthrophaga_myriapodina.html https://www.jungledragon.com/image/106800/arthrophaga_myriapodina.html Arthrophaga myriapodina,Geotagged,United States,Winter

Evolution

''Arthrophaga myriapodina'' was first collected by Roland Thaxter from North Carolina in 1886 on ''Boraria infesta'', but he did not formally describe or name it. In 1916, A. T. Speare sent Thaxter additional specimens labelled as ''Entomophthora myriapodina'', but the name was never validly published. Kathie T. Hodge, Ann E. Hajek, and Andrii Gryanskyi showed that ''A. myriapodina'' is distinct from related taxa including ''Entomophthora'' and formally named it as the type of a new genus.

References:

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Taxonomy
KingdomFungi
DivisionZygomycota
ClassZygomycetes
OrderEntomophthorales
FamilyEntomophthoraceae
GenusArthrophaga
SpeciesA. myriapodina
Photographed in
United States of America