Coenosia

{{Short description|Genus of flies}}

{{Automatic_taxobox

| image = Coenosia.sexmaculata.-.lindsey.jpg

| image_caption = Coenosia sexmaculata

| display_parents = 2

| taxon = Coenosia

| authority = Meigen, 1826

| type_species = Musca tigrina

| type_species_authority = Fabricius, 1775

| synonyms =

}}

File:Coenosia atra - 2014-09-12.webm

Coenosia is a very large genus of true flies of the family Muscidae.{{cite book|author=D'Assis Fonseca, E.C.M.|year=1968 |title=Diptera Cyclorrhapha Calyptrata: Muscidae |pages=118pp|publisher=Royal Entomological Society of London|series= Handbooks for the Identification of British Insects|volume= 10|location= London}}{{cite book|author1=Gregor, F. |author2=Rozkosny, R. |author3=Bartak, M. |author4=Vanhara, J. |year=2002 |title=The Muscidae (Diptera) of Central Europe|pages=280pp|publisher=Masaryk University |series= Scientiarum Naturalium Universitatis Masarykianae Brunensis|volume= 107|location= Masaryk}} Coenosia are known as tiger flies since they are predators and hunt many kinds of insects and other invertebrates.{{cite web |title=Curious Tiger flies of southern Africa |url=https://nationalmuseumpublications.co.za/curious-tiger-flies-of-southern-africa/ |author=Burgert Muller |date=March 22, 2023 |publisher=CULNA }}

In Denmark, fungi Strongwellsea tigrinae and Strongwellsea acerosa (from the Strongwellsea genus, order Entomophthorales) infect the flying hosts from the genus Coenosia.{{cite journal |last1=Eilenberg |first1=Jørgen |last2=Michelsen |first2=Verner |last3=Humber |first3=Richard A. |title=Strongwellsea tigrinae and Strongwellsea acerosa (Entomophthorales: Entomophthoraceae), two new species infecting dipteran hosts from the genus Coenosia (Muscidae) |journal=Journal of Invertebrate Pathology |date=2020 |volume=175 |doi=10.1016/j.jip.2020.107444|pmid=32707095 |bibcode=2020JInvP.17507444E }} Including species Coenosia tigrina and Coenosia testacea. While most fungi spore once the host is dead, with Strongwellsea, the host continues to live for days, carrying out normal activities and socialising with other flies while the fungus consumes its genitals, fat reserves, reproductive organs and finally its muscle, all the while shooting out thousands of spores on to other individuals.{{cite news |last1=Weston |first1=Phoebe |title=Scientists find two new species of fungi that turn flies into 'zombies' |url=https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2020/dec/15/scientists-find-two-new-species-of-fungi-that-turn-flies-into-zombies |access-date=28 December 2022 |work=the Guardian |date=15 December 2020 |language=en}}

Species

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{{Expand list|date=September 2009}}

References