Mannitol mediates the mummification behavior of larvae infected with .

Introduction: Parasites can facilitate their own spread and reproduction by manipulating insect hosts behavior, as seen in the interaction between and . Infection by leads to the mummification of larvae, but the underlying mechanisms remain mysterious.

Methods: The morphology of infected larvae and fungal growth were first observed.

Neurotransmitter acetylcholine mediates the mummification of -infected larvae.

Parasites can manipulate host behavior to facilitate parasite transmission. One such host-pathogen interaction occurs between the fungus and the ghost moth is involved in the mummification process of infected host larvae. However, the underlying molecular and chemical mechanism for this phenomenon is unknown.