To ensure dispersal, many parasites and pathogens behaviourally manipulate infected hosts. Other pathogens and certain insect-pollinated flowers use sexual mimicry and release deceptive mating signals. However, it is unusual for pathogens to rely on both behavioural host manipulation and sexual mimicry. Here, we show that the host-specific and behaviourally manipulating pathogenic fungus, Entomophthora muscae, generates a chemical blend of volatile sesquiterpenes and alters the profile of natural host cuticular hydrocarbons in infected female housefly (Musca domestica) cadavers. Healthy male houseflies respond to the fungal compounds and are enticed into mating with female cadavers. This is advantageous for the fungus as close proximity between host individuals leads to an increased probability of infection. The fungus exploits the willingness of male flies to mate and benefits from altering the behaviour of uninfected male host flies. The altered cuticular hydrocarbons and emitted volatiles thus underlie the evolution of an extended phenotypic trait.

为了确保传播，许多寄生虫和病原体会通过行为方式操纵受感染的宿主。其他病原体和某些昆虫授粉的花朵使用性拟态并释放欺骗性的交配信号。然而，病原体同时依赖宿主行为操纵和性模仿的情况并不常见。在这里，我们发现宿主特异性和行为操纵致病真菌，Muscae，产生挥发性倍半萜的化学混合物，并改变受感染的雌性家蝇（Musca Domestica）尸体中天然宿主表皮碳氢化合物的特征。健康的雄性家蝇会对真菌化合物做出反应，并被引诱与雌性尸体交配。这对真菌来说是有利的，因为宿主个体之间的距离很近会导致感染的可能性增加。这种真菌利用了雄性果蝇的交配意愿，并通过改变未感染的雄性宿主果蝇的行为而受益。因此，改变的表皮碳氢化合物和散发的挥发物是扩展表型性状进化的基础。