Epichloë fungi are self-incompatible, and can only reproduce when the conidia from one mating type meets stromata from the other mating type. These fungi don’t just leave this meeting of gametes up to low probability wind events, but actually have evolved a relationship with insects that play an active role in conidia dispersal. The stroma actually attracts conidia covered female flies of the genus Botanophila, which then that oviposit a clutch of eggs beneath the fungal structures. The hatched larvae then feed on the now fertilized tissue, and soon enough, leave the confines of the infected grass to find a mate.

The metabolite chokol K was isolated from the fungus and experiments using the compound where conducted to examine its ecological function. In the bioassays conducted by these researchers, it was confirmed that chokol K does, without a doubt, attract these insects. Chokol K lined fly traps gathered several Botanophila flies while control traps without the compound collected no flies. Besides attracting its insect counterpart, this metabolite also has antifungal properties, that ultimately enhance its own fitness helping it compete against antagonistic parasitic fungi.