July 16, 2013 - Shrooms Extraordinaire

CaliforniaMama • Jul 17, 2013 2:37 am

[SIZE="4"]

Czech Earthstar

Malay Moth Eater

Toothed Mushroom

Czech Earthstar and Malay Moth Eater courtesy of the Flying Kiwi.

Toothed Mushroom courtesy of William Vann EduPic Graphical Resource.[/SIZE]

SPUCK • Jul 17, 2013 4:54 am

WOW. That's pretty amazing fungus.

Clodfobble • Jul 17, 2013 8:42 am

Paging classicman...

xoxoxoBruce • Jul 17, 2013 11:12 am

The Malay Moth Eater...

Believe it or not, this is another moth, though not in as good condition as the previous two!

This one has become infected with a fungus, which has eventually taken over the whole insect, finally producing the fruiting bodies you see here, one sticking out from the head and others looking just like little pins holding the moth to the leaf.

This sort of thing is relatively common in the tropics, and in fact different species of fungi specialize in parasitizing different insects.

Ants which show signs of fungal infection will be carried by their colleagues far away from the nest, to prevent the spores from spreading throughout the colony.

orthodoc • Jul 17, 2013 9:25 pm

The horror ...

Big Sarge • Jul 18, 2013 7:23 am

orthodoc;870707 wrote:
The horror ...

reminds me of what was growing in our socks and underwear when we were at camp hit for 2 months without a shower and had barely enough water to drink. that's where we invented the camp hit cocktail so you could sleep even though things were crawling all over you.

hard to believe, but those were the best days of my life

SPUCK • Jul 18, 2013 7:28 am

Indeed!

You want a detailed horror story that's just like this fungus read:

The Vang: The Military Form
by Stross.

It's a really deliciously chilling SciFi book about something similar to the poor moth above. I read it 25 years ago and still remember all the details.

The Vang @ Amazon

CaliforniaMama • Jul 20, 2013 5:11 pm

xoxoxoBruce;870630 wrote:
The Malay Moth Eater...

Thanks for posting that. I had meant to include it, but then got in a hurry and forgot until I posted it, but then I didn't have time to go back and add it in.

I worked all week at Girl Scout Day Camp. It was only 9-3, but I do not see how working parents can run life AND kids AND kids' activities AND be decent to each other! I realize my abilities for the above are already impaired because of my disabilities, but still . . . :neutral: