Sexual Activity of Male Musca domestica (Diptera: Muscidae) Infected with Entomophthora muscae (Entomophthoraceae: Entomophthorales)

Male house flies (Musca domestica L.) exposed to Entomophthora muscae (Cohn) Fresenius conidial showers mechanically transmitted conidia to female house flies during copulation. Female flies were infected by primary conidia dislodged from the male or by secondary conidia produced from existing primary conidia on the male carrier. Male mating behavior was affected by the developing infection. When healthy female flies mated with diseased males, they laid fewer eggs and had lower fecundity than females that mated with healthy males.