--- title: "Horrid Fungus Lures Flies Into Having Sex With Zombified Corpses" description: "Welcome to hell. A (checks notes) zombie fungus is infecting female flies and (checks notes) seducing male flies into mating with their undead corpses." date: "2022-07-18" modified: "2022-07-18" authors: - name: "Maggie Harrison Dupré" job_title: "Senior Staff Writer" link: "https://futurism.com/authors/mharrison" url: "https://futurism.com/the-byte/fungus-flies-sex-zombified-corpses" categories: - "Science & Energy" tags: - "insects" - "the digest" - "undead" - "zombie" --- # Horrid Fungus Lures Flies Into Having Sex With Zombified Corpses ![Welcome to hell. A (checks notes) zombie fungus is infecting female flies and (checks notes) seducing male flies into mating with their undead corpses.]() *\Image: Hans Hillewaert via Wikimedia Commons\* ## Fungal Provocateur Welcome to hell. According to University of Copenhagen scientists, a pathogenic zombie fungus (yes, you read that right) infects female houseflies and (sorry in advance) seduces male flies into mating with their undead corpses. The researchers' study, [published *The ISME Journal*](), purports that the fungus, called *Entomophthora muscae,* slowly eats infected flies alive from within. When the fly is all but dead a few days later, the fungus forces its victim to fly to the highest point in its vicinity. And from there, like a winged siren courting bug-eyed sailors to their sorry doom, the undead carcass unleashes powerful chemical signals called sesquiterpenes — which the male insects simply can't resist. "The chemical signals act as pheromones that bewitch male flies and cause an incredible urge for them to mate with lifeless female carcasses," Henrik H. De Fine Licht, associate professor at the University of Copenhagen and study co-author, said [in a press release](). ## Pure Romance The researchers believe this bizarre event is a unique — albeit spooky — survival tactic for the fungal fiend. Once the male flies succumb to their lust, they're infected as well. "Our observations suggest that this is a very deliberate strategy for the fungus," continued De Fine Licht, adding that the invader is "a true master of manipulation." In true zombie fashion, the study also showed that the longer a fly is dead, the stronger it becomes — a phenomenon that the scientists contribute to the increased buildup of seductively-fragranced fungal spores. Trés taboo. But beyond being super gross, the scientists did say in the release that the viral fungi may have a practical application: the creation of pheromone-secreting, fly-beguiling traps. Kind of cool! Although, based on almost every zombie movie we've ever seen... maybe we should just... leave the flesh-eating spores alone? You know. Just in case. **More on zombies:** [*Vaccine Successfully Stalls Elements of Aging in Mice*]() ## Author At Futurism, I've reported extensively on the rise of AI as a cultural and business force shaping the media industry, and more broadly how those dynamics are changing how we all consume and share information and relate to one another. I'm also fascinated by public health policy and ethics, the role of emerging tech in politics and governance — and the powerful people and forces at those intersections — climate change, and the environment. My investigation on Sports Illustrated's use of AI-generated authors with fictional biographies won a 2024 Mirror Award for "Best Story on Media Coverage of Artificial Intelligence in Journalism and the Media" from Syracuse University's SI Newhouse School, I contributed to Niemen Lab's 2025 Predictions for Journalism series, and I've discussed my work for Futurism during appearances on NPR, CNN, the BBC, the CBC, and more. I grew up in rural Pennsylvania and attended the University of Massachusetts Amherst, where I played Division I field hockey for the Minutewomen as a midfielder. Since then, I've lived in New Orleans, Louisiana and Manhattan, New York. I spend my free time running, reading, perusing archival fashion, and searching for the world’s best negroni. I also have a debonair tuxedo cat, Westley, who's named after "The Princess Bride." ### Author social links [Bluesky]()