Is Entomophthora muscae harmful to spiders?

ItCameFromTheDumpster

Arachnopeon
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Oct 4, 2023
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Assuming it's not. Based on what I've looked into online and seen in person.
It only seems to spell an awful end for flies. But, upon finding the housefly I'd offered to a brooding wc jumping spider of mine had it, the heavens, what-if? panic took over and I'm asking anyway. Can this nasty thing harm her or her eggs? Or is it just a cruel nuisance that just my fruit flies will have to worry about? She's small and inhabits a little mealworm cup
 

The Snark

Dumpster Fire of the Gods
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Pathogenic + epizootic = bad news in the animal world as a whole. Fungus is always considered a non discriminatory infection agent. They have certain preferred targets but............. ??? Always better to err on the side of caution with fungi.
 
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ItCameFromTheDumpster

Arachnopeon
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Since moved the lid with her and her eggs to a new container. But as it was already fruiting when I found it, I doubt it was fast enough. She had direct contact with it.
I would completely detach the egg sac but it's tiny and fragile. I don't want to wind up harming it. Is there anything else that can be done about this awful disease if she did contract it or is she condemned to a slow horrible death?
The thought of her and her young's demise being directly correlated to my negligence is soul crushing. :(
So is the disturbing obsession I've seen with the idea of using E. muscae and related species as biocontrol agents. As as you said, fungi are notably indiscriminate killers.
Sure, flies are annoying and can be destructive, but willingly subjecting them en masse to such a thing has never crossed my mind.
 
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The Snark

Dumpster Fire of the Gods
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So is the disturbing obsession I've seen with the idea of using E. muscae and related species as biocontrol agents.
One of the bio-science Frankenstein pursuits. Several fungi produce toxins. One biological weapon the Russians were working in was a fungi derivative. That went into a black hole and vanished, possibly because the stuff was as lethal to produce and deploy as it was for the victims.
A very common one is Stachybotrus Chartarum AKA black mold. It produces an extremely powerful neurotoxin. And in the case of that little delight, the spores have been exposed to 300C, 570F, and remained viable.
Even very common fungi not considered a health hazard can be problematic as an opportunity infector that acts as a precursor weakening immune systems so more lethal organisms get a chance to grow. Several lung conditions are the result of that chain of events.

So with your spider, cross fingers and hope. Fungi eradication is next to impossible and often involves some extremely nasty drugs. The one rule is thumb always applies, quarantine, remove the animals from the source or visa versa, and modify the environment so fungi can't thrive.

A little ironic, I've been working with a mold killer today. BKC. Ferociously nasty stuff that can destroy muscus membranes in sinuses and lungs. But the main weapon of choice against black mold. .1 % concentration sprayed on the mold, triple towel covering my mouth and nose, three fans blowing and hold my breath. Gives an idea of how big a gun it takes to knock down some fungi.
 
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